Massa Fastest As Jerez Test Draws To A Close

Felipe Massa was the fastest man in the fourth and final day of pre-season testing at the Circuito de Jerez.

The Williams driver set a fastest lap time of 1.28.229 on the rain affected circuit, clocking up 86 laps in the process. His closest rival was his former team-mate, Fernando Alonso, whose prancing horse was nine-tenths shy of Massa’s best. Alonso set 115 laps throughout the course of the day which was the most of anybody.

Daniel Juncadella was in the driving seat at Force India. The Spanish reserve driver ran an impressive 81 laps, putting him third overall on the timesheets. Kevin Magnussen, McLaren’s Danish rookie, was fourth overall, having led yesterday’s test. His 110 laps, double his total from yesterday, were interrupted in the final minutes when he stuck the nose of the MP4-29 into the barriers. Daniil Kvyat simultaneously spun his STR9, leaving his total amount of laps at a mere nine.

Lewis Hamilton was fifth down the order with 41 laps under his belt, ahead of Jules Bianchi who took the new Marussia out for the first time this season. The Frenchman set an below-average 25 laps en route to a 1.32.222 lap time. Adrian Sutil was next down the order with 69 laps for Sauber. His C33 was remarkably off pace today, with Sutil’s best lap time over eight seconds behind that set by Massa. Sutil spun the car too, but caused no damage.

Nico Rosberg had the morning shift in the MGP-04, lapping Jerez 91 times. His 1.36.951, set in the wet morning conditions, were six seconds behind that set by his team-mate in the dry afternoon running.Kamui Kobayashi finished the day ninth overall for Caterham, his 54 laps giving him a lap time fifteen seconds behind the Ferrari up front. He was followed by Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo, the latter who had another disastrous day in the RB10 whose mechanical woes look to be far from over.

Felipe Massa	Williams	1.28.229	86 laps
Fernando Alonso	Ferrari	1.29.145	115 laps
Daniel Juncadella	Force India	1.29.457	81 laps
Kevin Magnussen	McLaren	1.30.806	110 laps
Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1.30.822	41 laps
Jules Bianchi	Marussia	1.32.222	25 laps
Adrian Sutil	Sauber	1.36.517	69 laps
Nico Rosberg	Mercedes	1.36.951	91 laps
Kamui Kobayashi	Caterham	1.43.193	54 laps
Daniil Kvyat	Toro Rosso	1.44.016	9 laps
Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull	1.45.374	7 laps

Photo via Felipe Massa. 

Magnussen Fastest In Jerez As Red Bull Problems Continue

McLaren rookie Kevin Magnussen was the fastest man today as pre-season testing continued in Jerez.

The Dane set 52 laps throughout the day, setting more laps than team-mate Button did on Wednesday, and beating his time which was set while testing Pirelli’s wet tyres. But the focus was very much on Red Bull whose week failed to improve, leaving Daniel Ricciardo going up in smoke on his first lap out of the pits. The Aussie was no sooner out of the pitlane than his RB10 started smoking.

It was costly for Red Bull who, after bringing the car back and fixing it up, managed only a further three laps. This brings their testing total to 11 over the three days. Nico Rosberg, in comparison, set 97 laps yesterday. Ricciardo later admitted that Adrian Newey had gone back to the drawing board in an effort to make the RB10 more stable. It’s no reason to be anxious about the reliability of the car, however, as knocking out the kinks is the purpose of pre-season testing.

Felipe Massa was the second fastest man, running 47 laps for Williams and recording a 1.23.700. His best lap time exceeds that set by his Finnish team-mate, with Williams looking particularly strong in the hands of Massa and Bottas.

Lewis Hamilton was third for Mercedes and eager to make up time lost after his early shunt on Tuesday, which was caused by a front wing jamming itself under his car and disabling both the steering and the brakes. His former McLaren team-mate, Jenson Button, was next down the order for the British team, clocking up 40 laps with a best time of 1.25.030 after he took the MP4-29 on track for the afternoon session.

Fernando Alonso was fifth for Ferrari, four-tenths of a second shy of Button’s fastest lap. Alonso’s 58 laps were not without issue, however, as his Ferrari ground to a halt around the track during the morning session. Nico Hulkenberg was in control of the VJM-07 today, but set a mere 17 laps. Jean-Eric Vergne had an average run – his 30 laps producing a best lap time of 1.29.915, some nine and a half seconds off the pace of Magnussen.

Adrian Sutil was on his 35th lap for Sauber before spinning out of control, hitting a barrier and knocking the front of his car clean off. It was a premature end to the day that the team did not want.

Robin Frijns, Max Chilton and Daniel Ricciardo were all left without a time, despite running 10, 5 and 3 laps respectively. Chilton was finally on track for Marussia, who missed the first two days, but their running was hampered by consistent technical issue. The only team yet to grace the track is Lotus who announced that they would skip the test to focus on the car’s development.

Testing continues tomorrow for a fourth and final day in Jerez.

1. Kevin Magnussen – McLaren – 1.23.276 – 52 laps
2. Felipe Massa – Williams – 1.23.700 – 47 laps
3. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes – 1.23.952 – 62 laps
4. Jenson Button – McLaren – 1.25.030 – 40 laps
5. Fernando Alonso – Ferrari – 1.25.495 – 58 laps
6. Nico Hulkenberg – Force India – 1.26.096 – 17 laps
7. Jean-Eric Vergne – Toro Rosso – 1.29.915 – 30 laps
8. Adrian Sutil – Sauber – 1.30.161 – 34 laps
9. Robin Frijns – Caterham – No time – 10 laps
10. Max Chilton – Marussia – No time – 5 laps
11. Daniel Ricciardo – Red Bull – No time – 3 laps

Image courtesy Getty Images.

Ecclestone Wants Double Points For Last Three Races

Bernie Ecclestone has declared that he wants to see the double points rule extended to include the final three races.

The rule which was brought in for 2014 states that double points will be handed out for the final race of the season – i.e. the winner will be given fifty points and the driver in tenth will get two points.

The rule was met with almost universal criticism from fans, drivers and F1 media, and many lobbied for the rule to be completely abolished. Drivers pointed out how one bad day could throw the championship in favour of another driver, while fans pointed out that it made the other races less important.

An alternative to the rule, met with mixed reaction, was proposed. The alternative would be a team pre-selecting a race where they would earn double points. The FIA made no comment on this suggestion.

Now, however, Ecclestone says that he wants to award double points for Austin, Brazil and Abu Dhabi – the final three races of the season. The logic behind the madness is that he hopes to keep the Championship battle going until the final lap of the season.

Sebastian Vettel’s grip on the 2013 season was painful, as he won every Grand Prix with remarkable ease after the Summer break. F1’s audience figures plummeted due to his superiority over the grid.

Doctors Begin Process To Wake Schumacher

Doctors in Grenoble have begun the process of waking Michael Schumacher from his coma, French newspaper L’Equip claims.

The 45-year-old has been in a medically induced come for a month after suffering serious head trauma in a skiing incident at the Meribel resort in France. He was put in the coma to reduce stress on the brain and help his chances of making a full recovery.

L’Equip says doctors began the process of taking him out of the coma earlier this week, and he is so far responding positively. Once Schumacher has been taken out of the coma, doctors will begin to make contact with him, hoping to prompt simple responses from him – such as opening and closing his eyes or clenching a fist.

However, fear still remains that the seven times World Champion could remain in a permanent vegetative state, even if the awakening is successful. Schumacher’s agent, Sabhine Kehm, told reporters that any rumours about Schumacher being in a vegetative state was nothing more speculation.

“I insist again on the fact that any statement on the health of Michael Schumacher that does not come from the medical team in charge or his management is just speculation,” She told media outside the University of Grenoble hospital today.

Schumacher’s family have maintained a bedside vigil since the accident on December 29th.

Image courtesy Getty Images.

Button Fastest As Pirelli Test Wet Compounds

Jenson Button led the way on the second day of pre-season testing in Jerez today.

Pirelli opted to take advantage of the overnight rain and moved their wet tyre test to today, sending a tractor and tanker out on track to sprinkle water on the surface. All teams except Toro Rosso and Caterham took to the track to test the wet compounds before the lunchtime break – as the afternoon session reverted to dry running.

Jenson Button, known for his excellence in wet conditions, took to the track almost immediately in order to make up the lost time that McLaren suffered due to mechanical issues on Tuesday. Button had a near flawless run and ended the day with a best lap time of 1.24.164, three seconds faster than Kimi Raikkonen’s timesheet-topping time on Tuesday.

Raikkonen was second down the order, seven tenths of a second behind Button’s best lap. Raikkonen too had a straight forward day with a brief trip across the gravel the only extracurricular activity for the Finn. Fernando Alonso will take the reigns of the prancing horse tomorrow.

Valtteri Bottas was third overall for Williams, recording a 1.25.344 best lap time. His 35 lap day went smoothly and the Finn raved about the FW36 – all good in the Williams camp, then. Nico Rosberg and Mercedes were also trying to make up for lost running following Hamilton’s crash on Tuesday, and completed a full race simulation. In total, he had a best lap of 1.25.588, which was two tenths slower than that of the Williams.

Sergio Perez was fifth for his new team, completing an average 37 laps and securing a time of 1.28.376 – some two tenths shy of Rosberg. Esteban Gutierrez set 53 laps, his running curtailed when he tried to run with the slicks on the wet track and slid into the gravel. Luckily he stopped just shy of the gravel but time was cost retrieving the car and analysing the C33.

Marcus Ericsson was back in the car for Caterham today, the Swede completely a mere 11 laps in the Renault power car. His CT-03 ground to a halt in the pitlane when he left his garage this morning as Renault were blighted with issues. He eventually got back out on track for some laps, albeit a short run, during which he set a 1.37.975 best time.

Sebastian Vettel had another poor day in Jerez, his Renault powered car also suffering problems. He completed three laps on Tuesday and a further eight laps today but was eventually forced to call it a day when his Energy recovery Systems faulted.

1. Jenson Button – McLaren – 1.24.165 – 43 laps
2. Kimi Raikkonen – Ferrari – 1.24.812 – 47 laps
3. Valtteri Bottas – Williams – 1.25.344 – 35 laps
4. Nico Rosberg – Mercedes – 1.25.588 – 97 laps
5. Sergio Perez – Force India – 1.28.376 – 37 laps
6. Esteban Gutierrez – Sauber – 1.33.270 – 53 laps
7. Marcus Ericsson – Caterham – 1.37.975 – 11 laps
8. Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull – 1.38.320 – 8 laps

New Noses Could Cause ‘Submarine’ Crashes, Warns Newey

Red Bull’s chief technical officer, Adrian Newey, has warned that the new mandatory low nose cones could cause cars to ‘submarine’ in a crash.

In an attempt to stop cars being launched into the air in crashes, the 2014 regulations state that tip of a car’s nose cone must no higher than 185mm, as opposed to 550mm which the previous regulations allowed. Airborne crashes are the final frontier for those trying to make F1 safer, with crashes like Mark Webber’s airborne adventure in Valencia 2010 or the pile-up in Belgium in 2012 all caused by cars mounting other cars.

However, Adrian Newey has warned that the opposite could occur in a crash, and cars could be forced down – potentially prompting a more dangerous situation.

“The regulation has been introduced following some research by the FIA which suggests that nose height reduces the chances of cars being launched,” Newey told reporters in Jerez, where the first of three pre-season tests are ongoing.

“So the accident that Mark had when he hit the back of Kovalainen in Valencia a few years ago. I must admit I am concerned that the opposite may now happen, that cars submarine effectively. So if you hit the back of the car square-on, you go underneath it and you end up with the rear crash structure in your face which I think is a much worse scenario.

“And there have been some accidents where you think if a low nose would have possibly made things much worse? There was the accident a couple of years ago where Schumacher spun at the first corner and somebody mounted him – with a low nose that might that have made that worse.

“I guess it’s like all these things; it might help in some scenarios, it hurts in others. It’s one which I must admit I’m personally not in favour of.”

Aside from the job that the new noses are supposed to do, much has been made by the aesthetics of the new rule. With most teams opting to put a pole sticking down from the main nose cone instead of affecting aerodynamics by putting the entire nose cone close to the ground, the finished product looks like a cucumber hanging from the car.

Image courtesy Getty Images.

Pre-Season Testing: Iceman On Top In Jerez

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen has topped the timesheets at the Circuit de Jerez, where the first of three pre-season tests today kicked off.

The Ferrari returnee set the most laps, almost double that of Lewis Hamilton who set 18 laps. Raikkonen completed 31 laps of the Spanish circuit in total, finishing the day with a best lap time of 1.27.104 – roughly seven tenths faster than Hamilton. Kimi’s first innstallation lap ended after five corners when the Ferrari pulled over. The team called this a precautionary stop and he later got back on track.

Lewis and Mercedes were the first team out on track but were forced to call it a day prematurely when the front wing on his Mercedes failed and lodged itself under his MGP-05, sending him into barriers at the end of the straight. He crashed in the same place, also on the first day, in 2013 when his brakes failed.

Valtteri Bottas was the third name down the timesheets, completing a mere seven laps which resulted in a best lap time of 1.30.082 – nearly three seconds shy of the time set by Raikkonen. Sergio Perez was fourth for Force India, completing eleven laps and finishing the day six seconds behind the Ferrari.

Jean-Eric Vergne was nine seconds shy of Kimi, having run fifteen laps of Jerez in total. His day also ended early when the STR9 developed problems. Esteban Gutierrez in the Sauber was the last man to set a lap time, fifteen seconds off the pace after seven laps.

Sebastian Vettel and Marcus Ericsson were seventh and eighth respectively. Vettel completed a total of three installation laps. Rookie Ericsson got the Caterham out on track for one lap, after the team delayed the launch of the car due to technical issues.

McLaren was at Jerez but didn’t run due to electronic issues on the car. Marussia were not in Jerez, and will not be tomorrow, as they developed some issues before leaving their factory and opted to stay in Britain until the problems were rectified.

Pre-season testing, and the first days in particular, is when teams start to get a foothold on if they’ve concocted the right formula or made a mess of their 2014 cars. Running continues tomorrow and will run until Friday before F1 goes to Bahrain for the remaining two weeks of testing.

1. Kimi Raikkonen – Ferrari – 1.27.104 – 31 laps
2. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes – 1.27.104 – 18 laps
3. Valtteri Bottas – Williams – 1.30.082 – 7 laps
4. Sergio Perez – Force India – 1.33.161 – 11 laps
5. Jean-Eric Vergne – Toro Rosso – 1.36.530 – 15 laps
6. Esteban Gutierrez – Sauber – 1.36.530 – 7 laps
7. Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull – No Time – 3 laps
8. Marcus Ericsson – Caterham – No Time – 1 lap

Win A VIP Trip To Silverstone With Sky Store

The rush is on to rent Ron Howard’s biopic, Rush, which is now available to rent on the Sky Store.

With a storyline that would be unbelievable in a fantasy film, Rush focuses on the true story of the monumental battle between James Hunt and Niki Lauda as they vie for the 1976 Formula One World Championship; a battle which would see one of the protagonists overcome a near fatal collision and bring the title fight to the very last race.

As for the men who portray the two drivers, they could not have been better chosen. From Daniel Bruhl’s spectacular representation of Niki Lauda to Chris Hemsworth’s cheeky-smiling James Hunt impersonation, the real Lauda and Hunt couldn’t have represented themselves any better.

And of course, almost more important than the men the film is based around, is the on-track action. It is incredibly difficult to bring to life the excitement of real racing. Howard, however, recreated it beautifully and accurately builds the tremendous tension of a Formula One race. From the early F3 shots to the wheel-to-wheel scraps of the ’76 Championship, one is left on the edge of their seat as the drivers battle the conditions and each other from one race to the next.

All-in-all Rush lives up to the extremely high benchmark set by the actual events on which it is based. From the drama both on and off the track, Howard has created the perfect racing movie – one which can be enjoyed by everyone. From the loud noises of a V8 engine to the do-or-die attitude of both men as they fight for the title, you cant look away.

To celebrate Rush’s release, Sky Store want to offer you the chance of a lifetime. One lucky winner will win two VIP tickets to the British Grand Prix this July and go behind the scenes with Sky Sports F1. The winner will also be treated to three nights in a five-star hotel with accommodation and travel included in their prize.

But the winning does not stop there – the prize for second place is two tickets to the F1 Show at Sky Studios, again with travel and accommodation included. The third place prize is a Rush goody bag, including a McLaren team shirt signed by Jenson Button, a Rush poster signed by the movie stars and director, a one year Official McLaren team membership and the James Hunt biography.

And it couldn’t be easier to enter – anybody who rents Rush from the Sky Store between the 27th of January and the 23rd of February will be automatically entered into the competition.

Good luck and happy viewing!

Red Bull, Mercedes And Force India Unveiled In Jerez

Red Bull, Mercedes and Force India pulled the covers off their respective cars today at the Circuit de Jerez.

The teams are in Jerez this week for the first of three pre-season tests which kicks off today.

Mercedes were the first to reveal the MGP-05 at half eight local time. The silver and black livery looks very similar to its predecessor, and noticeably does not have the new pointy nose cone which many of the teams are running. Lewis Hamilton kicked off winter testing when he took to the track at 9am local time.

Red Bull were next to reveal their 2014 title contender, the RB9. Defending World Champion Sebastian Vettel and his new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo pulled the covers off the car which also looks similar to the 2013 Red Bull model. It does feature the point nose cone, but is hidden through a clever paint scheme.

Force India were the third outfit to unveil their car, although they had leaked some computer images of the VJM-07 online during the week. The car, which will be driven by Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg this season, features a mainly black and orange livery. The VJM-07 also features a pointy nose, which is partially hidden against its black background.

Caterham F1 Team were due to unveil their 2014 model, but minor issues caused them to postpone.

Toro Rosso Pull Covers Off STR9

Toro Rosso are the latest team to pull the covers off their 2014 car after an unveiling at the Circuit de Jerez today.

Jean-Eric Vergne and his new team-mate Daniil Kvyat were in Jerez ahead of the first of three pre-season tests this week.

The new Toro Rosso, named the STR9, looks similar to its predecessor, with the new lowered front wing being the noticeable difference.

 

“The season 2014 will be very interesting from many different points of view. I call it a year of new strategy and news,” Toro Rosso Team Principal Franz Tost said today.

“We have had to design a new nose, new sidepods and new wings – never before have we started so early with the designs. The sidepods are bigger than in the past as we had to find space for the radiators. The team did a good job to place it without losing aero performance.

“Never before the last weeks have we worked as hard as with the STR9. The team was in factory until 2am to finish it but we managed it.”

Testing kicks off in Jerez tomorrow. McLaren will be forced to skip the test due to failing the mandatory pre-season tests, with Lotus opting to skip the test and Marussia today announcing that they would miss the test due to a technical issue.