Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Iceman was back in action at Valencia today

Kimi Raikkonen successfully completed his first day back behind the wheel of an F1 car at Valencia today, more than 26 months after his last start with Ferrari.

The intention of the two-day test with a 2010 Renault is for Kimi get used to the F1 environment again, and get to know his team and engineers.

The car, which ran in yellow and black when it was new, was used for demo appearances last year.

“It’s nice to get back in the car, it’s quite a few years since I’ve driven last time,” he told Sky Sports News. “Of course it takes a little bit of time to get used to it, but the main bits of driving – braking, turning, the normal things – it doesn’t take many laps. But learning about the car, the team and the tyres will take time.”

Raikkonen admitted that he never expected to be back in F1.

“I had no plans for the future, I have no plans now for the future. There were different choices for this year, but I really wanted to do racing – I did some NASCAR last year and I really enjoyed competing against people again. It was then that I decided to do some racing again and F1 is the highest level of racing and where people want to be.”

Caterham has finally confirmed that it will move its racing operations to Leafield, the former home of the Arrows and Super Aguri teams. It will also build a road car facility on the same site.

The team had already announced that its current home in Norfolk would become Caterham’s composite facility, and that the F1 and GP2 outfits would move to a base closer to the motor sporting mainstream, but had not officially outlined its plans for Leafield.

Crucially, the new location will make it much easier for the Caterham to attract staff from nearby teams such as Lotus, Williams, Mercedes, Red Bull and Force India, as many people had been loathe to live in Norfolk. Marussia has also made a similar move in relocating to Banbury.

The move will take place in August, when both F1 and GP2 are on the summer break.

Tony Fernandes explained the plans in some detail: “The factory in Hingham has been our home since we were first granted our entry into the F1 World Championship in September 2009 and it has served us extremely well, giving us the perfect platform to establish both the F1 team and our GP2 team in the first stages of our development.

“However, as both teams grew, and in the planning process we went through when acquiring Caterham Cars and establishing the wider Caterham Group, it became clear that we needed to house the car company in the same facility as our racing operations, to give us the best chance to meet our future goals on and off track. We began looking for a site that could be adapted to suit the future needs of our racing and road car operations and Leafield quickly became the obvious choice.

“We propose moving the F1 and GP2 teams to the new site in or around August 2012, giving us ample time to build up the infrastructure required to house all the critical elements of both teams, and propose moving Caterham Cars into a new, bespoke development and production facility on the same site in due course.

“We are able to build the new home for Caterham Cars from the ground up on the Leafield site, giving us a permanent home in the perfect location for two of the primary arms of the Caterham Group. We will be consulting with all our team about the proposed move before we make any decisions about exactly which functions will be located to the new site.”

“The factory in Hingham is where the dream began, and we will continue to develop that site into the new permanent home for Caterham Composites. We have cutting edge technical and production facilities already in operation in the factory, now focused on the F1 and GP2 teams, and we will be expanding those facilities to help meet the future demands of Caterham Composites’ clients in all the markets that company will operate in, continuing to provide jobs and investment in Norfolk in world class, cutting edge technology. Caterham Technology and Innovation will also remain in Norfolk, demonstrating our long-term commitment to our first home.

“While it will obviously be sad if the F1 and GP2 teams move on from Hingham we are not saying goodbye to Norfolk. This will be the next chapter in the development of both our motor racing teams and our road car company and gives us the best chance to keep progressing on track and, in future, on the road with Caterham Cars.”

Hot on the heelss of his announcement Williams has issued the following Q&A with Bruno Senna.

Q: Now you’ve been confirmed as a Williams driver, what are your thoughts heading into 2012?
BS: I’m really happy to be a part of a team with such a fantastic heritage. I am very proud that Williams has chosen me to race in what will be an important year for them. Everyone is extremely motivated for 2012 and it is great to be part of that motivation. It is true that they didn’t have the best season last year, but it is clear that the team is on a new path and everyone is pulling together to ensure that this year is a better one. I really hope that I can demonstrate what I can do, not only for the team, but for myself. It’s going to be interesting to see what we can achieve together.

Q: What are your objectives for the 2012 season?
BS: It’s difficult to set objectives before the season starts, but I intend to push the car 100% to the limit to get the maximum performance we can from it.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Renault engine having raced with it last season and what do you think Renault can bring to Williams in 2012?
BS: After a few races with the Renault engine in 2011, I’ve learnt a great deal about it. It is a very good unit with good drivability, which is another positive step forward for the team. As a driver, you need to have every weapon available to you operating at its optimum in order to put in competitive times throughout the race.  I’m sure we can develop the car even further with the Renault engine and it will be interesting for me to be able to give the team feedback applying my previous experiences.

Q: What do you make of your new team mate, Pastor Maldonado?
BS: Pastor is a great driver. I’ve raced against him in GP2 and we always get along well. He’s been a very tough opponent in the past and he is going to be even tougher now we are both in the same car. We’ll certainly be trying to beat each other, but as teammates we’re going to work together to move the team forward.

Q: Can you talk us through what you have been working on at the factory so far?
BS: I’ve been at the Williams factory in Grove both before and after Christmas being really put through my paces in the simulator, on the track and in the gym. We’ve also done some evaluation work on the track (but not in an F1 car). The main purpose was for the team to evaluate me and to understand how to get the best out of me as a driver. But it’s also been really useful for me as it familiarises me with all the procedural things, such as learning the layout of the steering wheel before I get into the real car. When we start testing I won’t need to think about that so I’ll just be able to get on and drive the FW34.

Q: So you have had an opportunity to work with your new engineers?
BS: I think we’ve started off really well and now I’m looking forward to working with them more over the season. The relationship between a driver and engineer is something that few people can understand. You need mutual respect, to understand each other well and know how to work together in order to really gel from the start. That relationship and continuity can make such a difference to your overall performance.

Q: What started your career in motorsport?
BS: I was a motorsport fan from a young age and of course there has been a great influence from my uncle, but ever since I first put my feet into a go-kart I never wanted to do anything else. I’m very privileged to be able to do what I love, as to race in Formula One has always been my dream.

Q: You were once quoted as saying that, given the chance to drive any legendary Formula One car from the past, you would choose the 1993 active-suspension Williams. How important is it to you to now be a part of a team with such a motorsport heritage?
BS: The team has an amazing history and walking around the museum just makes me drool! I’ve seen many of these cars on track and always wondered how it would feel to actually race them. I’ve never been in one, so I think it would be good to get a run in the active ride car at Goodwood, just to get a feel!

Q: You have considerable support from Brazil, can you tell us about that?
BS: I feel very proud to be Brazilian right now. Knowing I have such great support behind me, people who have been there since the start, gives me such a great feeling. Knowing people have chosen me to bear their name gives me even more motivation to create good memories for them.

Q: Your uncle, Ayrton, raced for Williams. How significant is it for you to be joining the team?
BS: It will be very interesting to drive for a team that my uncle drove for. Quite a few of the people still here actually worked with Ayrton and I’m happy that they are now giving me the chance to prove myself here. Hopefully we can bring back some good memories and create some great new ones too.

Q: Fast forward to this time next year, what achievements would you be happy with?
BS: I hope that by the end of 2012 we can say we extracted 100% of the performance from the Williams-Renault FW34, whatever that may be. That is the most important thing. I just want to get the maximum possible out of the car and make the most of this opportunity. It is such an important year for both the team and myself as it will help shape my future. I hope that future will be long and successful, and it all starts here.

Bruno Senna has landed himself a Williams Renault seat

Williams has confirmed that Bruno Senna will partner his former GP2 rival Pastor Maldonado in 2012.

He will thus be seen at the wheel of a Williams-Renault 18 years after his uncle, Ayrton Senna, drove for the team. He is the latest in a series of ‘second generation’ drivers employed by Williams, following in the footsteps of Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima – and not to mention Alan Jones, whose father was hugely successful in Australia.

Adrian Sutil recently dropped out of contention for the drive, and Senna ultimately beat his countryman Rubens Barrichello to the seat. Ironically in 2009 Barrichello stayed on after the withdrawal of Honda to drive for Brawn GP at the expense of Senna, who had been favoured by the Japanese manufacturer.

Barrichello now finds himself without a drive for what would have been his 20^th season at the top level.

Frank Williams said: “Bruno only started racing when he was 20 years old but quickly proved his talent in F3 and GP2. In a tightly fought 2008 GP2 season, Bruno finished second in the Championship with notable victories in Monaco and Silverstone, the latter in the wet.

“The circumstances of Bruno’s two seasons in Formula One have not given him an ideal opportunity to deliver consistently so it was essential that we spent as much time with him as possible to understand and evaluate him as a driver.

“We have done this both on track and in our simulator and he has proven quick, technically insightful and above all capable of learning and applying his learning quickly and consistently. Now we are looking forward to seeing that talent in our race car.”

Bruno commented: “I feel very privileged that Williams has selected me as one of their race drivers. The team has a great heritage and I hope I can help write a good chapter in their history. The evaluation process has been intense and methodical but the time I have spent in the factory has demonstrated that the team has great people and all the resources needed to achieve better things this season.

“It will be very interesting to drive for a team that my uncle has driven for, particularly as quite a few of the people here actually worked with Ayrton. Hopefully we can bring back some memories and create some great new ones too. I also want to get some good results in return for the support my country has given me to help get me to this position today.

“I am very proud to be Brazilian and more motivated than ever to demonstrate what I can do. Ever since I first sat in a go-kart I never wanted to do anything else.”

Senna has made the final shortlist and thus received an official nomination in two major BAFTA categories.

It has overcome a lot of strong opposition to make the top five in Outstanding British Film, alongside Shame, My Week with Marilyn, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

It is also in the last three for Best Documentary. Its rivals in that category are Martin Scorsese’s George Harrison: Living in the Material World, and Project Nim, about a chimpanzee raised in New York.

Senna has also received a third nomination for best editing, where the opposition comes from The Artist, Drive, Hugo and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

The nominations were announced this morning by Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe and actress Holliday Grainger.

The awards will be handed out in London on February 12.

Robert Kubica was back in hospital today after reportedly breaking his leg when he fell in an icy street in Italy.

He is believed to have suffered a fractured tibia of his right leg, which was injured in his horrific rally crash on February 6 last year.

He is being treated by the medical team who looked after him last time around in Pietra Ligure.

Although clearly a setback for his recovery hopes reports say that the injury is not as serious as it might first appear, so the delay might not be too long.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said today that the Italian team has to stay calm whether it quickly finds success or has a difficult start to the year with its new car.

There has been a mood of optimism in the Maranello camp of late, engendered by the push for a radical car, and new staff arrivals. Speaking to the media Domenicali admitted that expectations were high, but stressed that 2012 would be a long season.

“Clearly, this will be a tricky year, but that is part of any sport, even more so when one looks at the environment in which Ferrari operates,” said the 46-year-old. “There are expectations that need to be managed as well as possible, and I am well aware that the emotional aspect is very important in a team like ours.

“But that will not change my approach. We will not get over excited if things go well, nor will we be down if we have some difficulties, especially at the start, because we know this is going to be a very long season. We must stay grounded and calm, maintaining our motivation and concentration.

“Of course, winning is our primary objective and I believe we are preparing ourselves in the right way for this. Everyone is working hard on improving the performance of the car, paying great attention to every little detail. I expect even those who have just joined us to make a significant contribution to what is already a strong group of people. Because once in a while a breath of fresh air can liven things up.”

Domenicali reiterated that the new car – the first designed under the leadership of Brit Pat Fry – represents a break with the past. He also joked about is looks.

“It’s definitely different, because it represents a clear break with the past in terms of the design philosophy. It’s not that pretty, because the shape defined by the technical regulations does not leave much scope, but, and this is what counts really, our hopes are that it is at the very least quick!

“I asked our engineers, as far back as last summer to look into every little nook and cranny of the rules to push it to the limit, but up until we see the other cars we will not know if we have taken it to the limit or are within it. Then, to really understand the hierarchy we will have to wait for qualifying in Melbourne. We must always bear in mind that the times one sees from testing are not always what they seem. At Jerez and the two Barcelona tests, we can get a rough idea, but nothing more.”

Domenicali also stressed that 2012 will be a busy year behind the scenes for F1, as the new Concorde Agreement is finalised and the Resource Restriction Agreement continues to be a major focus of attention. He added that the RRA is still very much alive, despite the fact that Ferrari and others have left FOTA. However its precise form remains fluid.

“Clearly this is a very important year and we are all aware of that,” said Domenicali of the Concorde. “It is equally clear that there is only one offer on the table, given that no alternative solutions were ever established.

“In the coming months, talks will get underway on the future of the Agreement as we are still in discussion, especially with the bigger teams, despite the fact we have left FOTA, on the subject of cost reduction, discussions where Ferrari has always been at the forefront.

“Furthermore, one must bear in mind that the RRA is still in force: what still needs to be established – and this something we are looking at in these days – is if we should abide by the first version, signed in 2009, or the one drawn up in Singapore in 2010. The first one envisages very severe spending cuts for 2012, the year it should run out, while the one signed in Singapore has a revised figure and is valid right up to the end of 2017.

“The key point is to understand if this is an important tool for the future. What should happen to those who do not abide by the rules? Today, only a financial type of penalty is planned, but we need to decide if it would not be better to think also of something on the sporting front and, in that case, who should decide the outcome.”

Williams has announced an interesting new partnership with the fitness organisation run by former US Olympic hero Michael Johnson.

Johnson is the only man to have won the 200m and 400m golds in the same Olympics, a feat he achieved in Atlanta in 1996, and is also the only man to have defended the 400m title, having triumphed again in Sydney in 2000. He also won a relay gold, and held multiple world records.

He opened the Michael Johnson Performance Center in 2007. Williams says that the intention is for MJP to “provide an intensive training programme for the team’s pit crew personnel as well as conducting an evaluation of the team’s training regime.”

Johnson, latterly a TV commentator, has been an occasional spectator at Grands Prix in the past, and he expressed a keen interest in the sport when I interviewed him in Monaco in 2009.

Regarding the new deal, Frank Williams said: “I had the privilege of first meeting Michael at the Belgian Grand Prix in the late 1990s. I have always admired the dedication required to be an Olympic Champion. The attention to detail and the commitment required is what sets these extraordinary individuals apart from the rest of us.

“When Michael and I met again recently he explained how he had established a company that specialized in improving athletic performance. I was extremely keen to learn how he could help our team as there seemed to be a lot of areas of common interest.  Michael’s sporting achievements speak for themselves, and the principles he used to become the fastest man in the world are certainly transferable into our own hugely competitive field.”

Johnson added: “I am confident that the experience and biomechanics expertise of the MJP staff that has benefitted numerous American football athletes, Premier League football teams, and Olympic federations, can also benefit the Williams F1 Team pit crew in their goal to cut hundredths and even tenths of a second from their pit stop times.”

Ferrari has strengthened its technical team with two intriguing key appointments in Hirohide Hamashima and Steve Clark.

Hamashima was at Bridgestone for some 34 years, and latterly headed the F1 programme. He will give the Italian team a valuable insight into tyre development.

Meanwhile Clark will he head of race engineering, overseeing Andrea Stella and Rob Smedley.

Clark’s busy CV includes stints at Lotus, Ligier, Arrows, Sauber and in Champcar with Ganassi and Pac West. He was at McLaren from 2002-7, working with Ferrari technical director Pat Fry. He then joined Honda, remaining with the Brackley team into the Brawn and Mercedes eras.

Jaime Alguersuari has paid tribute to Toro Rosso physio Raniero Gianotti, who has died at the age of 46.

Alguersuari said that the Italian was “the person who I have loved and who has loved me the most in Formula One.”

Gianotti, who also worked with drivers such as Rubens Barrichello and Jarno Trulli in the past, suffered a heart attack while cycling.

“For me, he was more than a friend, he was a brother,” said Alguersuari. “I debuted in F1 with just 19 years old and I had never done a full lap in an F1 in any circuit. Raniero was my guide and comfort in my troubles. In these three years we have lived together in the most diverse countries in the world, in his house in Urbino and at my family’s house in Barcelona.

“He was the best professional I’ve known both in the physical preparation applied to F1 as in knowledge of the paddock. A few days ago he called to tell me, ‘Don’t worry about your future, Jaime, because you are the future.’ I will never forget him, and I can only say ‘Ever onward to victory, Raniero.’ We will continue to fight against adversity.”