So as 2012 comes to a close the Marussia have become the latest F1 team to confirm their driver line - up for 2013 with the news that Britain's Max Chilton will partner Timo Glock. The news comes just one day after Lotus confirmed Romain Grosjean for 2013.
This leaves just two seats left in F1 for 2013, with Caterham yet to announce Charles Pic's team-mate, meanwhile it is believed that Adrian Sutil is set to rejoin the Force India F1 Team joining Paul Di Resta. The Silverstone based team confirmed today that they will launch their new car on Friday 1st February
Tuesday 18 December 2012
Monday 17 December 2012
Lotus confirm Grosjean for 2013
It may come as a surprise to many but the Lotus team confirmed this evening that they will retain the services of Romain Grosjean for next season. Grosjean endured a very tough return to Formula One in 2012. It was his first full season in the sport after being dropped by Renualt in 2009 having replaced Nelson Piquet Junior.
The French-Swiss driver scored three podium's this season, however he was banned for one race after causing a massive crash at the Belgian GrandPrix. While Grosjean scored three podium's and out qualified Kimi Raikkonen on numerous occasions, he finished the season well behind Kimi. Kimi finsihed the year in third in the championship and won the Abu Dhabi GrandPrix and scored seven podium finishes.
In my opinion, Lotus are right to retain Grosjean as it means that the team has stability for the 2013 F1 season. If Grosjean can get on top of his race craft he and Kimi will be in a fantastic position to challenge for next season's title.
If Grosjean had been able to finish in the points consistently Lotus would have been in contention to challenge RedBull and McLaren at the front.
The other thing is that Kimi and Romain seem to get on well and have proven that they are extremely quick so given a quick car next season Lotus will do extremely well.
In other F1 news, it has been reported that Lewis Hamilton was in Brackley today at the Mercedes factory to start work, this is despite the fact that he doesn't officially start work with the new team until 1st January.
Out going Mercedes Motorsport boss Nobert Haug revealed that the team reached an agreement with McLaren that has allowed Lewis to complete some valuable mileage in the mercedes simulator.
It will be interesting to see if Lewis will make an appearance at the Autosport International Show in January.
With the announcement that Lotus are retaining Grosjean for 2013 it leaves Caterham, Marussia and Force India the only team's left to confirm their line ups. It is expected that Caterham will confirm their line-up by the end of this week, meanwhile it is believed that former Force India driver Adrian Sutil could be on his way back to the team next season to partner Paul Di Resta after the German driver confirmed that he has no travel restriction's despite having been convicted of GBH in January.
He was given an 18 month suspended sentence.
The French-Swiss driver scored three podium's this season, however he was banned for one race after causing a massive crash at the Belgian GrandPrix. While Grosjean scored three podium's and out qualified Kimi Raikkonen on numerous occasions, he finished the season well behind Kimi. Kimi finsihed the year in third in the championship and won the Abu Dhabi GrandPrix and scored seven podium finishes.
In my opinion, Lotus are right to retain Grosjean as it means that the team has stability for the 2013 F1 season. If Grosjean can get on top of his race craft he and Kimi will be in a fantastic position to challenge for next season's title.
If Grosjean had been able to finish in the points consistently Lotus would have been in contention to challenge RedBull and McLaren at the front.
The other thing is that Kimi and Romain seem to get on well and have proven that they are extremely quick so given a quick car next season Lotus will do extremely well.
In other F1 news, it has been reported that Lewis Hamilton was in Brackley today at the Mercedes factory to start work, this is despite the fact that he doesn't officially start work with the new team until 1st January.
Out going Mercedes Motorsport boss Nobert Haug revealed that the team reached an agreement with McLaren that has allowed Lewis to complete some valuable mileage in the mercedes simulator.
It will be interesting to see if Lewis will make an appearance at the Autosport International Show in January.
With the announcement that Lotus are retaining Grosjean for 2013 it leaves Caterham, Marussia and Force India the only team's left to confirm their line ups. It is expected that Caterham will confirm their line-up by the end of this week, meanwhile it is believed that former Force India driver Adrian Sutil could be on his way back to the team next season to partner Paul Di Resta after the German driver confirmed that he has no travel restriction's despite having been convicted of GBH in January.
He was given an 18 month suspended sentence.
Friday 14 December 2012
Lauda to fill the void left by Haug
So with the imminent departure of Nobert Haug from Mercedes, three time world champion Niki Lauda will become a non executive director on the Mercedes board of directors. Lauda held a similar position with Jaguar Racing during the early 2000's taking over as team principal when Bobby Rahal was sacked by Ford.
It is thought however that he will not take up the team principal role at Mercedes as that is currently held by Ross Brawn. It was revealed that Norbert Haug is leaving because of the poor performance's by the team since they took over the Brawn team in 2010
It is thought however that he will not take up the team principal role at Mercedes as that is currently held by Ross Brawn. It was revealed that Norbert Haug is leaving because of the poor performance's by the team since they took over the Brawn team in 2010
Thursday 13 December 2012
After 22 years Norbert Haug calls time on Mercedes career
It was confirmed today that after 22 year's with the company Mercedes Benz Vice President of Motorsport Norbert Haug will leve his post at the end of the year. Haug was instrumental in Mercedes return to Formula One as an engine supplier with the Sauber team in 1994 before switching to McLaren in 1995.
During this time, Haug oversaw the engine division that resulted in in a Constructor's championship for Mercedes in 1998 and two driver's championship's for Mika Hakkinen in 1998 and 1999. Mercedes also powered Lewis Hamilton to the driver's championship in 2008.
Mercedes also powered Brawn to both the driver's and constructor's championship's in 2009. In 2010 Mercedes to full control of the Brawn team and were renamed Mercedes GP and in 2012 they became known as Mercedes AMG. Since taking over Brawn the team has only managed one victory, however Norbert Haug has been instrumental in Mercedes capturing the signature of Lewis Hamilton from McLaren for 2013.
In is not not yet known firstly if Haug will continue in his DTM role and it has not yet been announced who his replacement will be.
During this time, Haug oversaw the engine division that resulted in in a Constructor's championship for Mercedes in 1998 and two driver's championship's for Mika Hakkinen in 1998 and 1999. Mercedes also powered Lewis Hamilton to the driver's championship in 2008.
Mercedes also powered Brawn to both the driver's and constructor's championship's in 2009. In 2010 Mercedes to full control of the Brawn team and were renamed Mercedes GP and in 2012 they became known as Mercedes AMG. Since taking over Brawn the team has only managed one victory, however Norbert Haug has been instrumental in Mercedes capturing the signature of Lewis Hamilton from McLaren for 2013.
In is not not yet known firstly if Haug will continue in his DTM role and it has not yet been announced who his replacement will be.
Wednesday 12 December 2012
Austria ruled out for next season
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has poured cold water on the possibility of the RedBull Ring hosting a return to Austria next season. The commercial right's holder of the sport has said that the only circuit that he is in contact with is the Istanbul Park circuit in Turkey.
The 2013 Formula One calendar has a hole in it as the proposed race in New Jersey has been postponed until 2014. Turkey was taken off the calendar for 2012 as Texas became the 20th race on the calendar.
Last week, Dr Helmut Marko, RedBull's motorsport director suggested that the RedBull Ring was ready to host an F1 return in Austria, however Mr Ecclestone has said that it won't happen.
In my opinion, it would be fantastic to see F1 return to Turkey. The race is classified as a 'European' race however the circuit is located on the Asian side of Istanbul. The circuit is extremely fast including the incredible turn eight.
So we will have to wait and see what happens over the next couple of week's.
The 2013 Formula One calendar has a hole in it as the proposed race in New Jersey has been postponed until 2014. Turkey was taken off the calendar for 2012 as Texas became the 20th race on the calendar.
Last week, Dr Helmut Marko, RedBull's motorsport director suggested that the RedBull Ring was ready to host an F1 return in Austria, however Mr Ecclestone has said that it won't happen.
In my opinion, it would be fantastic to see F1 return to Turkey. The race is classified as a 'European' race however the circuit is located on the Asian side of Istanbul. The circuit is extremely fast including the incredible turn eight.
So we will have to wait and see what happens over the next couple of week's.
Sauber become first team to pass FIA test
The Sauber Formula One team have become the first outfit to pass the mandatory FIA crash test's. Every team on the grid must pass the crash test's to enable them to go racing. The C23 will be driven next year by Nico Hulkenborg and Estabam Guitterez.
Pre-season testing gets underway on 5th February.
The 2013 Winter Testing Programme looks like this:
5th - 8th February - Jerez, Spain
19th - 22nd February - Circuit De Catalunya, Spain
28th February - Circuit De Catalunya, Spain
1st - 3rd March - Circuit De Catalunya, Spain
Pre-season testing gets underway on 5th February.
The 2013 Winter Testing Programme looks like this:
5th - 8th February - Jerez, Spain
19th - 22nd February - Circuit De Catalunya, Spain
28th February - Circuit De Catalunya, Spain
1st - 3rd March - Circuit De Catalunya, Spain
Sunday 9 December 2012
Austria could return to the F1 calendar in 2013
Austria could return to the Formula One calendar next season, that is the claim of RedBull's Motorsport director Dr Helmut Marko. The A1 Ring in Austria is now owned by RedBull and has been renamed the RedBull Ring. RedBull have apparently approached the FIA about the possibility of hosting the race as early as next season stating that the circuit is up to FIA standard.
The A1 Ring last hosted a GrandPrix in 2003 and was the scene of Michael Schumacher's controversial overtake on team-mate Rubens Barrichello who was leading the race right at the end of the race. Team order's were banned following this race, however they were reinstated last season.
In my opinion RedBull already have enough involvement in Formula One as it is, with RedBull Racing and Toro Rosso without promoting a GrandPrix.
I personally think that Istanbul Park should get the nod as it is a fantastic circuit especially with it's mega turn 8.
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