Archive for year: 2013
The point about drivers' market
After Sauber’ s announcement to retain Gutierrez to partner the new-entry Adrian Sutil, we can say that the puzzle for the 2014 drivers’ line-up is almost done. Only Marussia (who announced to retain Bianchi a long time ago) and Caterham still have to get their drivers’ line-up completed.
But, let’s take stock of the F1 drivers’ line-up before having a Christmas break:
RED BULL: Sebastian Vettel / Daniel Ricciardo
MERCEDES: Lewis Hamilton / Nico Rosberg
FERRARI: Fernando Alonso / Kimi Raikkonen
LOTUS: Romain Grosjean / Pastor Maldonado
MCLAREN: Jenson Button / Kevin Magnussen
FORCE INDIA: Nico Hulkenberg / Sergio Perez
SAUBER: Esteban Gutierrez / Adrian Sutil
TORO ROSSO: Jean – Eric Vergne / Daniil Kvyat
WILLIAMS: Valtteri Bottas / Felipe Massa
MARUSSIA: Jules Bianchi / ?
CATERHAM: ? / ?
So, many changes next season, only Mercedes has retained both its racing drivers. A brand new racing pair for Force India, instead. The Indian Team will take part in the 2014 F1 season with two very skilled young drivers such as Nico Hulkenberg (former Sauber team driver) and Sergio Perez (former McLaren team driver).
Two new drivers make their debut into F1: Kevin Magnussen, who will replace the Mexican driver at McLaren, and Daniil Kvyat who will replace the new Red Bull racing driver Daniel Racciardo at Toro Rosso. Kimi Raikkonen will re-join Ferrari to replace Massa who will join Williams to partner the twice – world Champion Alonso. Sauber hired a very experienced Sutil to partner the retained Gutierrez.
Sauber retains Gutierrez. Sirotkin as a test driver
After Hulkenberg joined Force India and Sutil joined Sauber, the Swiss team has completed its drivers’ line-up for the 2014 by confirming the Mexican Esteban Gutierrez as its driver. It’s the second season for Esteban to compete in the top series; he finished 7th in Japan, taking a point finish.
Besides confirming the Mexican driver, who is supported by the Telmex, the Switzerland-based team Principal Monisha Kalternborn, has also announced the name of the test driver: it’s the young Russian driver Sergey Sirotkin.
“I’m very happy to be able to continue as a driver for the Sauber Team. By working closely with the team, I was able to improve continuously. It will be my fourth year with the team, the second as a racing driver. The technical challenges in 2014 will be massive. It will go to my benefit to know well the people you’re working with, for sure”, says Gutierrez.
Gian Carlo Minardi “Things don’t go well at all”
Double points, new penalties, pole Trophy…Is this really the right way to make the F.1 Championship more engaging? It looks like some innovations have to be necessarily introduced to make the Championship more and more attractive, but I don’t think the result achieved will be as good as expected. In my opinion, what is necessary to do is to introduce more understandable regulations, rather than making use of those stopgap measures. A marketing strategy should be carried out to attract race enthusiasts, instead of shutting oneself up in one’s own motorhome, which is locked down more than a fortress.
It would be nice that enthusiasts could live the paddock’s atmosphere and see with their own eyes the race week end, have an autograph signed by their idol and a picture taken with him. I’ve got the feeling that many people cannot even recognize drivers, instead (apart from those who got onto the podium).
I think that the rule according to which drivers will be awarded double points at the last race, it’s simply ridiculous. A driver runs the risk to see all his work being ruined by only one race. It’s the same for third-tier teams. Marussia got the tenth place in the constructors’ championship, thanks to a 13th-place-finish (the team’s best result), one position ahead of the Caterham team. It’s a –one-position-gap which is worth at least 10 million dollars. The Russian-English team fought tooth and nail throughout the season. Next year, it could take only one race week end to ruin all the work done. This could be done more by the luck of rivals, than by their skills…..
In these days FIA has announced it wants to add a new team to the list of the teams which have been taking part in the World Championship for years. Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi have already declined the invitation, as they’ve been already engaged in some covered-wheel-Championships such as Le Mans and other World Championships. The causes of that can be many: car companies consider endurance competitions as a better way to promote their image and devolve technology to standard cars. Another reason is that nowadays it’s so difficult for car companies to partner with a chassis manufacturer who can ensure good results in F.1. At the beginning of the year Porsche was very close to close an agreement with Red Bull, but, due to some reasons, the agreement was never closed. The point is that next year the Le Mans competition will be very interesting, as important car companies the likes of Toyota, Audi and Porsche will take part in that. They’ll show us a breathtaking challenge. The participation of those big companies will make those Championships more and more interesting. Ferrari, through President Montezemolo’s statement, announced to be interested in those Championships. After all, a constructor such as Ferrari, who won the GT2 World Championship, cannot ignore these scenes.
The Minardi Management and Alberto Tonti join forces to launch future champions
The Minardi Management and Giovanni Minardi are glad to announce the beginning of a new professional cooperation with Alberto Tonti to carry out an ambitious project: find and follow the future motorsport Champions, starting from the first step of the car racing pyramid, i.e. kart racing.
After launching very talented drivers the likes of Pastor Maldonado (first F.1 test), Gabriele Lancieri, Davide Rigon, Matteo Bobbi and the two brothers Andrea and Giacomo Piccini onto the most important stages of International motorsport, the Faenza-born manager Giovanni Minardi consolidates his society’s structure by joining forces with Tonti’s scouting.
Minardi and Tonti join forces to become a benchmark for all the drivers and their families who want to get into the world of motorsport.
“I’m really glad Alberto accepted my invitation to join his forces with the Minardi Management. He’s a very skilled person I hold in high regard and he has a long-standing experience in the world of kart racing. Alberto will bring precious added value to the society thanks to his deep knowledge of a world which represents the first step for future champions. So far, I’ve had the chance to work with drivers who had already joined Formula cars championships such as Maldonado, Rigon, Lancieri, Zampieri, Vicky Piria and many more. Thanks to this project the Minardi Management will have the chance to watch closely youngsters, teach them the basics of car racing and support them to face the difficulties that a motorsport career will present them year after year”, says the manager Giovanni Minardi.
Alberto Tonti’s career in the world of motorsport started in 2003, the year he founded the Fly Kart team who took part in National and International competitions with a Tony Kart chassis. In 2011 he won the European KZ1-KZ2 Championship and he was awarded the World Cup KZ1’s vice-champion title the following year. In 2012 he joined the Management of Birel Motorsport, where he is in charge of dealing with drivers, media and sponsors.
“I’m honored to join forces with a big name in motorsport such as Minardi. It’s a big step forward for my career in the world of car racing”, says Alberto Tonti “I entered this world starting from kart racing, which is the first step. Making my experience available to young drivers and support them to move ahead with their career and enter Formula competitions, it’s a wish come true. Since some preparatory championships such as Formula 4 have been established, it’s getting more and more important to help drivers and families find the best solutions. I’m sure that, together with Giovanni Minardi and his Minardi Management, we’ll be a great team who will be the source of Italian and foreign young champions among whom there will probably be some promising lady drivers”, ends Tonti.
Sutil joins Sauber for the 2014 F.1 season
After being replaced by Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez in the Force India Team, Adrian Sutil joins Sauber for the 2014 F.1 World Championship.
The German driver joins the Hinwil-based team after being a Force India’s driver for 6 seasons: “I’m really happy to race alongside Sauber team. Transaction spun out more than expected, but Sauber has always been my first choice. I was a Force India’s driver for 6 seasons, so it was time to take on a new challenge. It’s a team with a long-standing experience in F.1. The factory is really amazing and the wind tunnel is one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in the field. I want to say thank you to Peter Sauber and Monisha Kalternborn for giving me this great opportunity”, says the Sauber team’s new driver Adrian Sutil.
“The new season is taking shape and each piece of the puzzle is taking its place. I’m very pleased with the agreement between Sutil and Sauber, as it means that the team is quickly solving all its problems. He’s a good driver, with a 6-year-long-experience in F.1. Peter Sauber will surely take advantage of the driver’s long-standing experience. Now, we’re waiting to see who’s going to be his team mate”, says Gian Carlo Minardi.
Now, all we can do is to see who is going to partner the German driver. Sergey Sirotkin is the favorite one to partner the German driver, but he hasn’t got the Superlicence yet.
Perez joins Force India and partners Nico Hulkenberg
Nico Hulkenberg has his team mate. It’s the Mexican driver Sergio Perez, who, after racing alongside Sauber and McLaren, has joined Force India to partner Nico Hulkenberg.
It’s an all-new driver pairing for the Vijay Mallya-owned team, who gets ready to run a 2014 season which is full of unknown items– because of the several technical changes which have been introduced – . The new pairing is made up of two young drivers who stood out over the last few F1 seasons. Both Nico Hulkenberg (born in 1987) and Sergio Perez (born in 1990) drove an interesting second half of the season. The ex-Sauber German driver led his team up to the 7th place (one position behind his new team) and the Mexican got the better of his World Champion team mate Jenson Button many times, finishing 11th in the drivers’ championship.
“In view of the new technical changes, Force India wanted to change its driver line-up and rely on two young drivers such as Nico and Sergio. If the team’ s performances are as good as they were in the last few seasons, the team can strive for getting a good position in the constructors’ championship, thanks also to the Mercedes’ engine”, says Gian Carlo Minardi.
“I’m really happy with this announcement. Force India has always been my first choice. I want to say thank you to Vijay and to all the team for giving me this opportunity. It’ a young and very determined team who has built competitive cars. Due to regulations changes, many things will change next season, but I have a good feeling about 2014. I’ll soon go to the factory to meet the staff”, says Sergio Perez.
Double points and permanent race numbers in 2014
FIA continues to announce new regulation changes for the 2014 F.1 season. After the several technical regulation changes that have been brought about are causing some troubles to teams and engine manufacturers, the F.1 Strategy Group – which is made up of FIA, FOM and six teams – together with the Formula one Commission, have approved to bring about other important changes to the regulation. Those changes will be effective immediately and they’ll be controversial, for sure.
Double drivers’ and constructors’ points will be awarded at the last race: the goal is to make the Championship less boring and predicted. Starting from next season, at the Abu Dhabi GP, the winner will be awarded 50 points. Other points: 36 points to the driver who finishes 2nd, 24 points to the fourth place, 20 to the fifth, 16 to the sixth, 12 to the seventh, 8 to the eighth, 4 points to the ninth, 2 to the tenth. “That way, it takes only one race to ruin all the work done throughout the season. Scoring zero points at Abu Dhabi would mean losing the Championship. I would simply consider it as a show where luck plays the main role, rather than a way to make the last event more engaging. Reliability, luck, mistakes…Too many factors can come into play to define a F.1 World Champion. We have to see this item also from the point of view of small teams. A double-point-finish for a team – maybe due to rivals’ misfortune rather than to the team’s merit – could ruin a rival’s whole season, during which several good positions were achieved.”
Permanent race numbers will be allocated to drivers: number 1 will be reserved for the current world champion, other drivers will be asked to choose their race number, between 2 and 99 “I like this decision. That way drivers can be identified not only with the helmet, but also with a race number.” What happen if a driver temporarily gets out of the Championship and gets back into it in late season?
A 5-sec. penalty: this 5-sec. penalty could be added to the final race time “Pay attention to who impose these penalties. If these penalties won’t be imposed by the same people, who always use the same parameters, these penalties could become very dangerous instruments to distort the final result. During the 2013 season, too strict penalties were imposed, that went to the detriment of a correct sense of competitiveness.”
The minimal weight doesn’t change: the request to boost the weight’s limit – car and driver – from 690 kilos to 700 kilos wasn’t approved: “I don’t understand why some teams didn’t allow that. That could discriminate some drivers. It seems to me we’re going back to the ‘80s and ’90s, when cars’ design was based on small and lightweight drivers. If we consider the large number of extra parts cars will be equipped with next season, that could be a right way to avoid to reduce the space available for the driver”.
Rumors has it that the Budgets Cup will be introduced in 2015, but this is another story….
F.1 is arranging the 2014 season…but there are still many unknown things (maybe too many)
Despite three places were assigned – Maldonado joined Lotus Team alongside Grosjean and Hulkenberg joined Force India – the 2013-2014 drivers’ market still looks like a messy bundle. Nowadays there are still six places to be assigned: 1 Force India; 2 Marussia; 2 Caterham; 2 Sauber.
Some recent rumors about a possible merger between Marussia and Sauber, two teams which are currently navigating dangerous waters (like some other F.1 teams such as Lotus), make next season’s grid even more incomprehensible. Even if it’s not easy to achieve, the merger between the Banbury-based team and the Hinwil-based team is not impossible to be achieved, since both teams signed an agreement with Ferrari for what concerning the new 1.6 turbo engines’ supply for next season. In the case this merger is achieved, the drivers’ market will undergo a significant slowdown, as F.1 will lack two seats. If we consider that Jules Bianchi has already signed a contract with Marussia-Ferrari for the next season (the French driver whose manager is Nicholas Todt, is a member of the FDA), the seats available will drop to 4 and 2 of them are very attractive (Force India and Sauber). We don’t have to forget that Max Chilton, a driver who can bring the team a considerable financial support, would remain “unemployed”. Apart from him, another important driver such as Sergio Perez, who is supported by Slim – the world’s richest man – hasn’t signed any contract yet.
As we already know, we’ll see some new expansive changes next season, such as the new turbo engine and all the drawbacks that come with that. So, it is important to hire a gained-long-standing experience driver, who can give engineers the right technical instructions. All the above-mentioned, along with the fact that no testing sessions will be made, make it hard for new drivers to get into F.1. So, team managers will look for a right balance between technical skills and financial support. Hulkenberg is a classic example of a driver who doesn’t enjoy a great financial support, but, thanks to his several point finishes, he makes the team earn money coming from TV rights.
As we said above, the 2014 will be the year zero for a F.1 which is experiencing a delicate moment. It will be the year zero because many changes will be introduced: brand new chassis, turbo engine, new KERS systems, a max.100 kilos-gas-load…….Everything will have to be put together and time is too short. I’ve heard that some teams haven’t received any instructions yet about the engine unit’s dimensions and the dimensions of external parts, so even the chassis is still to be defined.
Next season will be very nervous. The team who will start the season off on the right foot, will win the Championship. The Brawn GP Team set a trend.
Gian Carlo Minardi in Madrid as Fernando Alonso's guest
On the occasion of the “Fernando Alonso Collection”, which was inaugurated on Monday at the Madrid-based Centro de Exposiciones Arte Canal, Gian Carlo Minardi was a Spanish Champion’s guest and had the chance to re-experience the beginning of the Spaniard’s bright career into F.1, which was promoted by the Faenza-born manager and his team in 2001.
It’s an amazing exhibition where all the cars, trophies and memorabilia concerning the Spanish driver’s career, are put on display and visitors have also the opportunity to take an “interactive trip” into Fernando’s story. The exhibition is divided into 6 thematic areas: the first one is called “o km” and it’s the area dedicated to Alonso’s first steps into the world of motorsport; the second area is called “la collecciớn” and it’s the area where all the single-seaters Fernando has driven to take part not only in the F.1 Championship but also in lower Formula Championships, are put on display; the third section is named “Circuito Alo”, here visitors can take an “interactive trip” through Fernando’s motorsport career and private life; another section is called “Start your engines!”. Visitors can have an audio-visual experience relating F.1 and can share the passion the Asturias-born driver has for this sport; “Formula 1 Experiences”, where all secrets about the technological innovations which mark the top series can be discovered; “275.000 km de emociớn”, it’s a video where the Ferrari’s driver goes back over his career. The Exhibition, which was organized by the Fernando Alonso Foundation in cooperation with the Canal de Isabel II Gestiớn, is only the embryo of what will be the Fernando Alonso Museum, to be established in Oviedo.
“It’s a beautiful exhibition and an amazing collection. Fernando parents’ idea to collect all their son’s sport equipment was great. There you can find his first go-karts, racesuits, gloves and trophies. Even the 2001 Minardi car is put on display, along with the racesuit Fernando wore in his debut year into F.1. All that brought pleasant memories to my mind. I want to extend my congratulations to everybody for arranging such an amazing exhibition. It was also a good opportunity to see some friends like Flavio and Stefano, again”, says Gian Carlo Minardi.
On the exhibition’s opening day, Fernando wanted not only his family and friends next to him; he also invited all the team principals he dealt with throughout his career into F.1: Gian Carlo Minardi, Flavio Briatore, Martin Withmarsh and Stefano Domenicali.
Hulkenberg – Force India…sometimes they get back
Force India has announced that Nico Hulkenberg has signed an agreement with it for the 2014 season, but it is rumored that the German driver has signed a contract also for the following years. “Hulk” will race alongside the Vijey Mallya-owned team again, after joining it in 2011 and 2012 as a test driver first and as an official driver after.
It was a 2013 season rich in satisfaction both for Force India and for Nico. The Sauber team’s ex-driver scored 51 points during the second half of the Championship, after an unhappy first half of the season. He managed to finish 10th. Force India has hoped to get the better of McLaren until the end and took the seventh place on 77 points, ahead of Sauber and Toro Rosso, its main driver.
Hulkenberg represents another piece to complete the 2014 F.1 season’s puzzle, after Felipe Massa moved to Williams to replace the neo-Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado. Daniel Ricciardo will replace Webber at Red Bull and he will race alongside the 4-time-World-Champion Sebastian Vettel and Kevin Magnussen will make his debut into F.1 alongside the McLaren team, having Jenson Button as his team mate. The Danish driver will replace a still-not-hired Sergio Perez. The Mexican driver could partner with Hulkenberg at Force India.
Rigon scored the second place in the FIA WEC’s last round in Bahrain and 8Star Motorsport won the title.
There could be no better end to the season for Davide Rigon, who finished second in the FIA WEC Championship’s last round at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain. Thanks to the talented driver’s contribution at the wheel of the Ferrari 458 GTE, the 8Star Motorsport Team secured the Teams’ title and Ferrari secured the title in the constructors’ championship.
The Vicenza-born driver’s schedule was impressive: he took a podium finish in 3 events out of four. He took a win in Shanghai, finished second in Brazil and Bahrain and finished fourth in Fuji, scoring a total amount of 24 points.
As he did in the International GT Open Championship at the wheel of the Villorba Corse Team’s Ferrari 458, Davide showcased all his talent and professional skills helping Andrea Montermini win the overall title first and the 8Star Motorsport Team afterwards, proving himself to have the right stuff to compete in a world championship. “I’m very happy with this podium finish thanks to which the team and Ferrari won the title. I’m happy especially because it took only four points to take a win, two second places and a fourth place in a demanding championship such as the FIA WEC”, says Davide Rigon “I want to thank the team with whom I’ve always felt very comfortable. The Ferrari 458 is really a great car, as confirmed by the title won in the constructors’ championship and it’s fun to drive a GT2 car.”
For the Ferrari’s test driver, a very intense season ends. This was a season full of commitments, as he took part in the Blancpain Endurance Series Championship, in the International GT Open and in the FIA World Endurance Championship. He took also part in the rookie test at Silverstone at the wheel of the Ferrari F138. “It was an intense year, full of commitments both on and off track. Besides working hard at the Ferrari Simulator and at the wheel of the F138, I also had the opportunity to compete in a world championship behind the wheel of very competitive cars such as the Ferrari 458”, ends the Italian driver.
Maldonado to join Lotus F1 Team alongside Grosjean
Some teams have already taken their decision about the 2014 season’s line-up, just like Lotus. After leaving Williams, alongside which he drove a “grim”2013 season, Pastor Maldonado, who took a win in Spain in 2012, joins the Enstone-based team alongside an already-confirmed Romain Grosjean.
Grosjean’s second part of the 2013 season was very intense and rich in results, as he finished 7th on 132 points, behind Nico Rosberg: “I’m very happy to have been reconfirmed and have the opportunity to continue to drive for Lotus F1 Team. The 2013 season was rich in satisfaction for me. We’ve worked a lot together and I know everyone has fought hard to try to score points, nothing was left to chance. I can’t wait to drive the new car and go to Australia for the first race.”
The Venezuelan driver was a much sought-after driver by many teams, especially for the great financial support he is able to bring to a team. After the negotiation with Quantum failed, Eric Bouiller has probably thought about signing the talented Venezuelan driver (who can ensure a great financial support) to partner with a matured Grosjean. “It’s a great opportunity for me. It’s not a secret that I wanted to change to make some progressions in my F.1 career. Lotus F1 Team is the best opportunity for me, for sure. Next season regulations and cars will change a lot, so this is the right moment to start a new adventure. I just can’t wait to start.”
Now, only Force India and Sauber’s seats are still unassigned and Hulkenberg, Di Resta and Perez haven’t signed a contract yet.