Formula 1 2013

[wolverine]

Maybe we should get the big red finger for Melbourne and wave it at him.

[sh@un]

capital idea

[ctjet]

pip pip cheerio old boy

[tweety bird]

Luiz Razia's place on the Formula One grid is under threat after 'financial problems' resulted in him missing the last test at Barcelona.

Razia joined Marussia in time for the first pre-season after purchasing the backmarker outfit's second seat.

However, the 23-year-old's career could be over before it even starts after his sponsors 'did not deposit the money' needed to secure his seat.

As a result, Razia was dropped from the team's line-up for the second outing at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Marussia sighted a need for continuity with Max Chilton staying behind the wheel, however, Razia has confirmed there is more to the story.

"In the contract there are parties with responsibilities," he told Folha de S.Paulo.

"We trust them but we have some conflicts."

Asked if those 'conflicts' were the reason he did not test last week, Razia responded: "Exactly.

"We have done the right things, just this is out of our control."

The Brazilian, though, believes the situation will be responded in the next "few days."

Marussia will be in action next at the Circuit de Catalunya on Thursday for the start of the final pre-season test before heading to Melbourne for the season-opener.

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/8523096/-Conflicts-Put-Razia-s-Seat-On-The-Line

that has got to suck..

[tweety bird]

Renault has unveiled the first images of the new V6 turbo engine that it believes will help attract fans back to Formula 1.

The new 1.6-litre turbocharged unit has already run extensively on the dyno at Renault's Viry-Chatillon facilities, but will not have its track debut until the start of next year.

"F1 is still going to be very loud, it is still going to be a very violent event," he said.

"You can see on the test bed that even with relatively slow shifts on a relatively low transient dyno, that gear shifts are rapid and violent.

"And the big glowing red thing at the back of the engine in front of the gearbox [the Energy Recovery System] is also going to be a thing of some spectacle."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105710

[tweety bird]

Paddy Lowe will move to Mercedes after his current contract with McLaren comes to an end later this year.

Although Mercedes declined to comment on the situation, sources have revealed that a deal has been agreed in principle for him to switch camps ahead of the 2014 campaign.

The confirmation of Lowe's departure makes it likely that he will now be put on gardening leave by his current team until the end of this year, with McLaren having now appointed Tim Goss as its new technical director.

It is not clear exactly what role Lowe will take at Mercedes, as the team already has three technical directors in place, but he is likely to assume a more senior management role at the outfit.

There had been speculation earlier this year that Lowe was being lined up for the team principal role at Mercedes, with it being suggested that the new management structure of Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda was even looking at ousting Ross Brawn.

However, talk that the current team principal's position was under immediate threat was strongly denied, while Brawn revealed that he had been involved in talks with Lowe about joining the outfit.

Brawn said that the idea of attracting Lowe was aimed more at the longer term, as he looked to put in place a succession plan for when he did decide to call time on his F1 career.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105704

McLaren has appointed Tim Goss as its new technical director, in the wake of Paddy Lowe's decision to switch to Mercedes.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105705

[tweety bird]

The Australian Grand Prix will stay at Albert Park for the next 50 years if Bernie Ecclestone has his way.

Melbourne has hosted the race since 1996, but rarely a season goes by without politicians or local residents raising questions over the amount of money it costs to host the race.

Under the current terms, the race will stay in the Victorian capital until 2015, but the Formula One ringmaster is keen to keep the race there on a long-term basis.

Speaking to the Australian GP's Keeping Track podcast, he said: "We hope we're going to be in Melbourne forever. We're happy with Melbourne and I'd be happy to sign a 50-year contract. We don't have a problem with Melbourne.

"I understand we do get a little bit of criticism. I don't know why. You start wondering are we really wanted in Melbourne?

"It appears to be (wanted) now; whenever these sorts of things happen I'm told, 'Don't be silly about that, it's just one or two people making a noise. We're happy for Formula One to be there."'

Should Melbourne decide to pull out, then there are several other options for Ecclestone, but Albert Park remains his number one choice.

"We get proposals from other parts, but we're happy in Melbourne," he said.

"Everybody loves Australia and loves Australian people, and it's good to be there... and Melbourne, in itself, is a nice place."

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8525438/F1-boss-eyes-long-term-Melbourne-deal

[tweety bird]

Mexico City is moving ever closer to a place on the F1 calendar with Bernie Ecclestone confirming talks are underway.

"We were going to do a race in Cancun. We had a contract but they couldn't get the permission they wanted," he told Autoweek.

It appears Mexico City's Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez will be the venue should the country make a return, much to Ecclestone's relief.

"Mexico City is a better place to hold the race than Cancun," the Formula One supremo said.

"In more or less any city around the world you could ask people 'where is Mexico City?' and they would say Mexico. If you said to somebody where is Cancun they would say 'I don't know.'"

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8525050/Bernie-confirms-Mexico-City-talks

[ctjet]

i like that the first headline was "Grand Prix will stay at Albert Park for the next 50 years"

Swiftly followed by the following headline "Mexico City is moving ever closer to a place on the F1 calendar"

believe nothing

[sh@un]

trust no one

[sh@un]

welcome to the Pleasure Dome bitches...

[Nee-san]

welcome to the Pleasure Dome bitches...

Same over the top lame interior that ever other XOUXDNFDJFSBKFJSDBF Sports car has these days...

[tweety bird]

Adrian Sutil is set to be confirmed on Thursday as Force India's second driver for the 2013 Formula 1 season.

Sources close to the German have revealed that Sutil has been given the nod over Jules Bianchi to become Paul di Resta's team-mate in 2013.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105744

ivan picked it.

[ctjet]

Jules isnt ready and Sutil deserved another chance

good result

[sh@un]

Same over the top lame interior that ever other XOUXDNFDJFSBKFJSDBF Sports car has these days...

you, out ---->>

[wolverine]

RBR low fuel run overnight in testing? The track was wet for most of the session so soft tyres late in the day for his time.

1. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:22.693, 90 laps
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:24.348, 113 laps
3. Jean-Eric Vergne,Toro Rosso, 1:25.017, 59 laps
4. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1:26.458, 85 laps
5. Sergio Perez, McLaren, 1:26.538, 100 laps
6. Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber, 1:26.574, 92 laps
7. Paul di Resta, Force India, 1:27.107, 57 laps
8. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:27.541, 112 laps
9. Max Chilton, Marussia, 1:28.166, 78 laps
10. Charles Pic, Caterham, 1:28.644, 83 laps
11. Romain Grosjean, Lotus, 1:34.928, 52 laps

[wolverine]

Jules isnt ready and Sutil deserved another chance

good result

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just realised that Sutil is 30 years old. Where do the years go?

[89CAL]

Heard a rumour that narain karthikeyan was in line for the Force India seat. Really glad that Sutil got it instead....

Not long to go now 3 more days of work between now and when I fly to melbourne for Round 1

[tweety bird]

Alexander Rossi and Ma Qing Hua will get some valuable mileage under their belts this season after being named Caterham's reserve drivers.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8531299/Rossi-and-Ma-get-reserve-roles

Red Bull running passive DRS during testing at Barcelona

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105779

Jules Bianchi will race for Marussia this season after the team was forced to terminate Luiz Razia's contract, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

The Frenchman will test for the team at Barcelona on Saturday and then complete half a day of running on Sunday.

Although the deal is not believed to have been signed yet, Bianchi will make his debut in the Australian Grand Prix later this month.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105789

[tweety bird]

Kimi Raikkonen has been forced out of Saturday's running at Barcelona due to suspected food poisoning.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8532778/Raikkonen-sidelined-with-illness