Category Archives: Uncategorized

I don’t usually cover rallying on this blog, but given that not much is happening during F1’s summer break, I couldn’t resist this little gem that has arrived from India.

It features wealthy businessman and Mitsubishi owner Samir Thapar in action on the recent Coimbatore Rally, alongside his co-driver Vivek Ponnusamy.

Rallying is of course to a large degree about communication, relying on a calm and collected co-driver supplying information to a driver who can process it. Here is an example of how things don’t always go smoothly…

If you want to see more Samir Thapar himself has kindly uploaded entire stages to YouTube, so just search for his name. Enjoy!

Motor racing history buff Dario Franchitti has written a book about some of the drivers he admires the most.

The Indycar star is holding off an autobiography until he retires from driving. In the mean time he is collaborating on the ‘Romance of Racing’ project with his long time friend and former Autosport and Racer editor Andy Hallbery.

The book contains classic photos along with pen portraits by Dario of past and present F1 and Indycar stars.

Hallbery is boldly publishing the book via his own ANH imprint, and the catch is that he needs firm orders in order to get going.

Both men know their stuff, so it promises to be well worth a read – check out the video above.

You can find out more and place an order at:

http://kck.st/13sweaa

Luca di Montezemolo has made it clear that he’s still unhappy with the outcome of the Mercedes ‘tyregate’ saga – and has taken digs at both the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone.

Montezemolo was speaking in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, later republished on Ferrari’s own website. While enthusing about the change in the balance between aero and powertrains in 2014 he also welcomed the return of testing.

“We will finally have testing again and not a farce like what we saw this year with one team doing illegal testing, without even paying the right penalty for it,” he said. “In this case, I would have expected more clarity and courage from the FIA.

“On the other hand, the benefits gained by the team that carried out the secret banned testing are watched by everyone. Before then, it had not won a single Grand Prix, then after the test it won three out of five races. These are the sort of serious incidents that affect F1’s credibility and alter the championship.”

Montezemolo made further reference to the Mercedes affair when asked about the future of Bernie Ecclestone.

“Sooner or later a generational change always occurs. It’s not too long until we reach the post-Ecclestone era for reasons of statistics. As for the rest, I don’t want to talk about it. We will have to prepare for a new cycle, capable of tackling the urgent matters and the need for a new F1.

“I believe the management of this sport, which let’s not forget is not just a show, should be entrusted to a group of men open to new ideas, who know about racing but also about marketing and communications and are sensitive to the demands of the fans, those who come to the circuits and therefore pay for the tickets and those who watch on TV, while being able to involve the sponsors and not alienate them.

“But be careful, I don’t want to have discussions with Ecclestone, I have had some in the recent past, because he was too talkative on the subject of Ferrari, but surprisingly silent on the subject of the illegal tests carried out by Mercedes. I know Bernie’s strengths and weaknesses, but let’s be very clear on one point, no one else will ever do for Formula 1 what Ecclestone has done.”

As for the recent changes by Pirelli, he added: “No polemics, but I have only pointed out that I don’t feel it’s right to change the type of tyre at the midpoint of the season, for cars designed and developed with different tyres, which is another element that contributes to organising the hierarchy. And who knows if for next season, for which studies and preparation are already underway, there could not be further changes. We need clarity.”

Luca do Montezemolo says that Ferrari can still bounce back in 2013 – and has made it clear once again that Fernando Alonso has to remember that the team has priority.

Montezemolo was speaking in a lengthy interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, which was republished on the Ferrari website.

“Fernando is a great driver and I understand him, he is a bit like me – he wants to win,” said Montezemolo. “He must just remember that one wins and loses together, and for its part, Ferrari must give him a car capable of starting from the front two rows.

“It doesn’t sit well with me seeing our car is not competitive. That’s why I intervened, even if I didn’t want to abuse my authority over my men. However, it had to be done. But how? We started so well, we had begun the world championship with a very competitive car, maybe even considered the best. But something happened, and instead of moving forward we went backwards.

“Therefore the right attitude, the one I am taking from now on is as follows: understand the mistakes, fix them and after this careful analysis develop the car in the right direction. We must put our heads down in this return match, as I describe this second part of the season after the break, a break I don’t like, but we have to adhere to it.”

Asked how that would happen, he said: “Firstly, our DNA, Ferrari’s and mine, has a characteristic that we never give up. We must get back on the path we were on up until Barcelona. We can do it. Secondly, Spa and Monza are two circuits that could suit the characteristics of our car. Yes, the conditions are in place to give a strong signal of a recovery and, on top of that, I expect results from our engineers who must demonstrate their worth. Then, please, let’s not forget that last year, at the last race, for a few laps, Alonso was the virtual world champion, at the wheel of a Ferrari and definitely no other car, which confirms this team knows how to be competitive.”

Elaborating on the subject of Alonso, he said: “Fernando has given a lot in these last years and I repeat, his disappointment, which came about mainly after Silverstone, where all of us expected to be more competitive, is understandable. But I didn’t like some attitudes, a few words, some outbursts. And I said so… I reminded everyone, including the drivers, that Ferrari comes before everything, the priority is the team.  Rather like a family father pointing out the need to respect some family rules – I wish to underline the concept of family values.”

He also made it clear that the future of Felipe Massa is up in the air.

“Felipe is a quick driver and a great guy. But in the past days, we were very clear with him – both he and us need results and points. Then, at some point, we will look one another in the eye, and decide what to do.”

Mercedes motor sport chief Toto Wolff says that Lewis Hamilton’s winning drive in Hungary was ‘mind blowing.’

His opinion reflects how the team was as surprised as anyone else that the Brit was able to score such an impressive victory, when tyre management issues had been anticipated.

“It was a fantastic drive,” Wolff told this writer. “The team worked so hard from Friday onwards on the long runs, setting the car up for the long runs, and anticipating the heat. I guess this all came together.

“Lewis’s drive was for me mind blowing – down the inside, round the outside of people. Obviously we were also lucky with the strategy when Jenson slipped in front of Vettel. But you have to take these days. A brilliant drive, a great car, brilliant work from the team, and this is the result.”

Wolff conceded that, like Hamilton himself, he had been pessimistic about prospects for the race.

“I think that generally you have to be more on the pessimistic side and not be overoptimistic! We have been quite optimistic on previous weekends, and not had great Sundays. This is why we have it inside of us that we know we are struggling on Sundays. But this time we saw that preparing for Sunday, in the way we did, just worked out.”

Wolff said he had no regrets about the team being forced to sit out the Silverstone test.

“It gave us three days to think about stuff! We had the tyres on the car for the first time on the Friday, and we just seemed to do the right things.

“But it doesn’t help us in any way for Spa and Monza. We just have to keep our heads down and work hard and see where it ends.”

Christian Horner says that Red Bull has to put together the best possible package when it finally decides on a replacement for Mark Webber.

While he admires Daniel Ricciardo, Horner is clearly keen to have an established winner on board, while others in the camp are supportive of the Toro Rosso driver.

Horner says that the team is not under pressure to promote a Red Bull protégé, despite Toro Rosso’s obvious role as a training ground.

“I think Daniel considering the equipment at his disposal has done a very good job,” said Horner. “Which is why we were keen to have a look at him at Silverstone, and he acquitted himself very well there – he couldn’t have done any more to be honest.

“I think the situation that we’re in is that we want to run the strongest team. We’re a team that’s won the World Championship the last three years, and we want to make sure that we are in a position to compete and fight for the World Championship in future years.

“There has never been any pressure that we must take a junior driver. It’s a matter of fielding the best team at the end of the day. Of course the junior drivers are under consideration, but there’s not a pre-requisite that it has to be a junior driver for next year.

“You always want to put the strongest drivers in the cars that you possibly can. Mark leaves some big shoes to be filled.”

Asked about how an Alonso/Vettel combination would work, he said: “It would be interesting! I think at the end of the day we what we have to think about is what’s right for the team, and obviously the pairing that we put together next year has to be right for the team.

“Last week there was speculation about Kimi, this week it’s about Fernando. I think for us we want to make sure nothing waivers in our mind about putting the right team package together for next year with the two fastest drivers that we can, and that we work collectively well together and achieve the best results for the team.”