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De la Rosa passes a subliminal message at Barcelona...

While the focus turned to Korea this week Pedro de la Rosa was busy at Barcelona with his Pirelli testing programme.

Testing has taken on a new edge as the company gets close to finalising the products it will take to Abu Dhabi, when all the teams will try them just a few days after the Grand Prix there.

The Spaniard focussed on the hard and medium compounds over two days of running at his home track, which saw him complete some 262 laps in stints of around 35 laps. Pirelli says that thanks to cold morning starts its engineers were able to evaluate the tyres over a wide temperature range, from 7degC to 21degC over the course of a day.

De la Rosa said: “It’s been an excellent couple of days; I’ve been very impressed because I have to say that the tyres were at an even higher level than I imagined. If you look at what Pirelli has done, it’s hard to believe that all this work has been carried out in such a short space of time.

“These Pirelli tyres have their own quite different characteristics to the current supplier that the drivers will appreciate next year and I’m confident that they will form a very competitive package. Pirelli’s arrival is great news for Formula One.”

Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery added: “Once again, Pedro has shown what a valuable asset he is to us through his hard work and detailed feedback. He’s carrying out a crucial role and the information that he has provided to us has helped us to further define the tyres that we will take to Abu Dhabi.”

De la Rosa will try the soft and supersoft tyres at Paul Ricard early next month.

Having sampled it in the simulator Lewis Hamilton says that the Korean GP venue will suit the strengths of the McLaren.

Intriguingly he added that the middle sector will “reward commitment,” implying that his press-on style could pay off, especially now that he has little to lose by taking risks.

“I’ve driven the Korean International Circuit on the simulator, and my first impressions were extremely positive,”said Hamilton in a team preview. “On paper, the track should suit our car quite well – the first sector is all about good end-of-straight speeds and strong performance under heavy braking, both key characteristics of our car.

“And the middle sector is fast and flowing; it’s the kind of place where you want a car with a good balance and good downforce. I think it’ll reward commitment – it actually feels like quite a nice driver’s track. The end of the lap is slower and tighter, but it’s still all about rhythm and flow – so, as long as the track surface is nice and grippy, I think we’re set for an enjoyable first race in Korea.

“I’m looking forward to the weekend – I think we can have a positive race. While recent results haven’t necessarily shown it, we’ve had a strong car – now I’m hoping to get the chance to prove it on track.”

Meanwhile Jenson Button said: “It’s always exciting visiting a new circuit for the first time. The Korean track certainly looks very interesting – a real mix of different characteristics – and there appear to be a couple of very likely opportunities for overtaking, particularly at the end of the three main straights, but possibly also off-line in the twisty final sector. The track looks quite high-speed, and the walls are close, so I think it’ll be an interesting challenge.

“As with any new circuit, it looks like it might throw up a few unexpected issues – not necessarily on the racetrack itself, but I’m sure the teams and drivers will work together with the organisers to make sure the event is a complete success.

“We’ve made some improvements to the parts we tested in Suzuka, and it’s looking likely that we’ll run the new parts on Friday in Korea. As with all our upgrades, we are pushing the envelope, so I’m optimistic that the tests will be positive and that we’ll be able to race the new components.”

Martin Whitmarsh says the team can still recover from recent frustrations and win the title: “With three races remaining, and 75 points on the table for the drivers, it would be unwise to write off Jenson, Lewis or Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. Both drivers have won world championships before – they understand the difficulties of such a unique situation, and both have learned how to deliver their best under high pressure. They will be ready for this battle.

“And it’s a battle that will doubtless be won by consistency. While we will continue with our aggressive development strategy, bringing further new components to this race, we’re mindful of the need to bag points at every race. Nonetheless, we are committed to winning, and won’t give up without a fight.”

This is how the 2014 Winter Olympic Park will look...

...before Tilke and co turn it into an F1 venue a few months later

The decision to take the Russian GP to Sochi instead of Moscow could prove to a good one, as it seems that the track will wind around the 2014 Winter Olympic Park, where events such as ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating and curling will be held.

It was confirmed today that the race will be held from 2014-2020, with an option to extend. A map that has emerged on the net via Russia’s F1news website shows a track – apparently designed by Tilke – making full use of the Olympic site and some public roads.

Given that the Olympic Park is still being built the organisers can in effect construct access roads and so on with the race in mind, so that there should be a seamless transition to a Grand Prix venue just a few months after the Games. However there is some suggestion that the debut may be put back to 2015.

And it also means that there will be facilities such as a broadcast and media centre on site, not to mention good transport links.

“It can be a super circuit,” Bernie Ecclestone was quoted as saying by the BBC today. “It’s all the things we need and we are very happy.”

Given that Sochi is a resort with some obvious attractions this could well prove to be an inspired idea…

After trying for decades it looks as though Bernie Ecclestone will finally succeed in bringing F1 to Russia in 2014.

Having missed the Japanese GP Ecclestone is in Sochi today with Vladimir Putin, who has made his support for Vitaly Petrov and Renault clear in the past by helping to direct sponsorship their way.

Reuters reports today that ‘government sources’ say a five-year deal has been agreed from 2014. That does at least give the Russians three complete years during which to get the project together, which should avoid the hassles faced by Korea and Austin, who faced a much tighter schedule.

Inevitably it means that there will be even more reason for Renault to keep Petrov on board next year as interest in Russia builds.

Sochi will host the Winter Olympics in February 2014, and presumably the preparations for that mean that F1 cannot go there any earlier. A huge effort is being put in to improve transport links, including modernisation of the airport.

Intriguingly there have been a lot of environmental concerns regarding the Olympics, which caused some events to be moved. It remains to be seen how much of a welcome F1 receives.

By strange co-incidence Sochi’s twin cities include Long Beach and Monaco neighbour Menton – plus Espoo, home town of several Finnish F1 drivers…

Lotus has a firm grasp on the lucrative 10^th place in the constructors’ World Championship following the team’s 12^th and 13^th place finishes in Japan.

Virgin Racing will have to better that result – and in effect rely on high attrition ahead as well as problems for Lotus – in one of the last three races.

“Really we had a great weekend,” Mike Gascoyne told this blog. “We were really solid in qualifying. Suzuka is a circuit where it’s car handling, as the drivers will tell you. If the car’s controlling you, you’re going nowhere. In qualifying Jarno did a great job, Heikki was a couple of tenths behind and a second clear of the Virgins.

“Then in the race we had a real, solid performance as the best of the new teams. Strategy didn’t work out for Jarno. If there was an early safety car we were always going to stop one car, and that was the car in front – which was Jarno. Yamamoto didn’t stop, so Jarno got bottled up for a few laps.

“And well driven Sakon, he’s a lovely young lad and he drove a cracking race in front of Glock. He defended his position and that really ruined the strategy for Jarno. We also had a hydraulic issue, which nearly stopped him.

“But Heikki was flat out the whole way through, and it was a great result for the team. The whole team felt that we gave Tony and the shareholders, who weren’t in Suzuka, a good result. And they deserved it.”

Gascoyne says that while the battle over the Lotus name is a distraction, the team has plenty to look forward to, with more news on 2011 and beyond to come.

“The engine one, everyone can guess what the announcement is, but you’ve got to announce it at the right time. There’s several other things happening with the team. We’re in a very positive frame of mind.”

It looks like Korea will happen come what may...

The FIA’s Charlie Whiting is in Korea today to conduct the final inspection of the GP venue, more than 80 days behind the schedule specified by the governing body.

Some kind of announcement is due on Wednesday, but in Japan sources suggested that a cancellation at this stage is now highly unlikely, certainly compared to the dire situation a few weeks ago. The F1 freight has already started its journey from Suzuka.

Meanwhile the organisers have issued pictures showing that the track surface is complete, although the surroundings are clearly something of a mess…

Sunday in going to be a massive test for all five of the World Championship contenders, for while there are still three (or maybe two) races remaining, the lottery conditions in Japan mean that it could be a case of triumph or disaster for any of them.

The indications are that qualifying will at the very least start on a damp track, and clearly anything can happen, especially as everyone will almost certainly stick with a set-up to cater for what is expected to be a fully dry race.

When the McLaren drivers met the media at the end of a day of little activity this blog suggested that while none of the five contenders could win the title tomorrow, it was certainly possible to lose it, given the likely crazy nature of the day.

Jenson Button made the very valid point that the Red Bull drivers will be the guys under pressure, and specifically championship leader Mark Webber, because they clearly have the dominant car here.

“When you’re leading the championship I think this is the condition you probably don’t want when you’re in a fast car,” he said. “But for all of us behind this is not a bad situation. It can turn out to be a very positive weekend, and also a very negative weekend.

“But I think it’s looking like it’s going to be a very exciting Grand Prix, possibly with wet qualifying in the morning, drying through the session, and then a race that’s pretty much dry. It should be a fun Sunday, and we can hopefully take some points off some of our competitors.”

“I think every race is critical,” said Lewis Hamilton. “Of course the drivers and the teams are all on a knife-edge – well we’re all on the limit – trying to be consistent and score as many points as possible. Tomorrow is definitely a race where we need, or I definitely need, a strong result. I think we all do, but especially after the last few races that I’ve had.

“So I’m looking forward to another chance. But there are still four races, and if you look at the past for example in 2007 Kimi came back [from 17 points behind] after just two races. So four races is still not the end of the world, if you don’t score tomorrow.”

It’s going to be one helluva day…

Lewis Hamilton’s weekend got a little worse tonight when McLaren confirmed that he needs a gearbox change before tomorrow’s qualifying.

He thus goes into the 10am session knowing that he will have a five-place grid penalty.

A team statement said: “In P3 today, we noticed abnormal gearbox oil pressure on Lewis’s car, which we believed we had corrected ahead of this afternoon’s qualifying session.

“This afternoon, as we fired up Lewis’s car several times in preparation for qualifying, we became aware that the symptoms were worse than we’d originally diagnosed, and a decision was later taken to change the gearbox ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying session and the Grand Prix.
 
“As a result, Lewis will receive a five-place grid penalty for tomorrow’s race.”

Hamilton did only a few laps yesterday after his morning crash and only ran briefly in the wet this morning.

Sebastian Vettel says Suzuka qualifying could have turned into a farce had it continued in today’s rain.

Vettel is arguably the guy with the most to lose in the lottery conditions of this weekend, having won last year and dominated practice on Friday. In fact things could move back in his favour if it is dry on Sunday morning.

“It’s a tough call from race direction because obviously there’s lots of pressure from media all around the world, because the people at home they want to see us qualifying,” said Vettel. “And there was no chance today. Obviously the worst time today was for the fans. They waited all day long since practice for us to come out. In the end I think it was the right decision, because in these conditions there’s just too much water, and it becomes a farce, as we are not controlling the car anymore, and we are just passengers.

“Right now there are all sorts of possibilities as to what might happen to the qualifying. Right now what everyone is trying to do and hoping for is to have a normal qualifying, but time is limited, so we will see what will be the decision. The weather, because so far the rain is forecast until late this night, or even tomorrow morning, we will see.

“I think there is no reason to panic right now. Obviously what everyone is hoping for is a fair chance to qualify at his best, and then we’ll see. But surely it’s a new situation for most of us, apart from those who have been racing in 2004, when here as well they had qualifying and the race on the same day.”

Vettel agreed that it might not be easy for fans to understand how tough the conditions were.

“It’s probably a difficult thing to understand for the people outside. You just think OK put the rain tyres on and you’ll be fine. It’s not as easy as that. The cars are very light, we only have around 600-700kgs, which is half of a road car. The cars are very low, and so very easily with some standing water on the track we catch aquaplaning.

“And then it becomes undriveable for us. I think it was the right decision, there was no chance for us, as we would only be passengers rather than controlling and being able to push to our limits and to the limits of the car.”

Fernando Alonso said this afternoon that he is not too concerned about Red Bull’s superiority in Suzuka on Friday, and added that Ferrari has to keep the pressure on its rivals.

Alonso was fourth today, but almost a second off the best time of Sebastian Vettel.

“I’m sure there’s speed to come tomorrow,” said the Spaniard. “Always on Saturday you put everything on the car, all the best pieces, best set-up etc. But I guess for them, there is more to come as well. Always Saturday you put the race package. So surprises, we knew Red Bull was quick here, maybe the best circuit of the four. And we need to push them, as I said yesterday, and try to make them push as well, and not to have an easy weekend.”

Alonso believes that the expected wet weather could create some action tomorrow, but makes it clear that teams will also have to focus on the fact that Sunday is likely to be dry. In other words he thinks it’s better to focus on a set-up for Sunday, even if that compromises grid position.

“You always mix things in wet conditions. I expect a difficult day for everybody. You need to be at the best position possible, and knowing that the race is on Sunday, and with the dry conditions for Sunday as well, anything can happen.

“It’s a circuit that you normally have a possibility to overtake, so we don’t have to be too worried tomorrow in any of the positions we are. I expect tomorrow some teams will be quick in wet conditions, maybe Mercedes, Renault, Williams, and maybe they have a very good qualifying.”

Alonso says it’s hard to predict Ferrari’s own wet form: “Not much experience, to be honest. We did a couple of laps in Australia, then we switched to the dry tyres. In China as well we were OK. And in Spa it rained Friday morning, and we were P1. Overall I feel not too worried about the wet performance.

“We also know that in wet cases the luck factor is a big thing. You can have a lap with a little bit less water and you gain two seconds. You need to be in the right place at the right moment with the right tyre, so these kinds of things mix everything up.”