ZitatMexico on 21-race draft 2014 Formula 1 calendar, no New Jersey slot By Jonathan Noble Thursday, September 5th 2013, 10:08 GMT
Formula 1 is set for a 21-race calendar next year, including the return of Mexico but no New Jersey race, AUTOSPORT can reveal.
A first draft of the 2014 provisional calendar has been distributed to teams ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
Although the 2014 schedule needs to be approved at a meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council that takes place in Croatia on September 26-28, teams are bracing themselves for F1's longest ever season.
An early version of the schedule, which has been seen by AUTOSPORT, does not include the proposed event in New Jersey that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone had hoped to include.
However, it will feature events in Russia and Mexico, providing the circuits are ready in time.
F1's irresistible Mexican wave
As has been widely expected, the season will start in Australia on March 16 for the traditional double-header with Malaysia.
The Korean Grand Prix has been moved from the end of season run of flyaway events to become the fourth race of the campaign, taking place in the week after the Chinese GP.
However, the event is likely to only be made official subject to the completion of a contract with Formula One Management.
The returning Austrian GP is pencilled in for June 22, earlier than the July 6 date that it was originally scheduled for.
The new Russian GP at Sochi will become a back-to-back with Abu Dhabi, while the Mexican GP is being twinned with the USA GP at Austin.
The Spanish GP is set to take place at Barcelona, with Valencia not making it back on to the schedule, while the German GP will return to Hockenheim.
DRAFT 2014 CALENDAR
March 16 - Australia (Melbourne) March 23 - Malaysia (Sepang) April 6 - China (Shanghai) April 13 – Korea* (Korea International Circuit) April 27 – Bahrain (Sakhir) May 11 – Spain (Barcelona) May 25 – Monaco (Monaco) June 8 – Canada (Montreal) June 22 – Austria (Red Bull Ring) July 6 – Britain (Silverstone) July 20 – Germany (Hockenheim) July 27 – Hungary (Budapest) August 24 – Belgium (Spa) September 7 – Italy (Monza) September 21 – Singapore (Marina Bay) October 5 - Japan (Suzuka) October 19 – Russia* (Sochi) October 26 – Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina) November 9 – Mexico* (Mexico City) November 16 – USA (Circuit of the Americas) November 30 – Brazil (Interlagos)
I have not had time to write up a piece that’s been brewing in my mind since the formal announcement of Kimi’s Maranello return. The premise of my analysis is that Ferrari have been offering Alonso an olive branch – if not an entire hillside orchard of olive trees, ripe and ready for harvest. The ructions of the past few months between the Spanish driver and the Italian team have been monumental, but Ferrari now want to move on.
There have been daily stories in the Italian F1 media and blogs which present the Ferrari view of a happy and respected Fernando post the Kimi announcement. These tales have been cleverly crafted to further create the impression there is really a big Kimi/Nando love in going on right now.
Expressions of undying love are not rare in Ferrariland. Montezemolo made a huge deal earlier this year of how Felipe is loved - not just by his mother, wife and/or kids – but as dearly by the worldwide Ferrari family.
Ferrari love to be seen to be spreading the Ferrari love – particularly just before or after an internal civil war.
One of the love and harmony tales comes from Italian Ferrari expert, Leo Turini. He claims that a ‘secret’ pact has been agreed between Fernando and Kimi. This pact has 5 heads of agreement.
1) Fernando and Kimi both get the same treatment from the team.
It is noted that Raikkonen is a previous Ferrari world champion and has raced two great seasons at Lotus.
2) Ferrari always comes first
According to Turrini, this is to prevent Fernando and Kimi acting as Button/Perez have done on track this year. Both drivers therefore agreed that they would never hurt the interest of the team by getting “physical” on track. A Maranello source is quoted as saying, “all drivers are human beings, but not all drivers have the experience of Fernando and Kimi, it would be absurd if they would behave like a bunch of schoolgirls trying to get attention.”
3) If either Kimi of Fernando from halfway through the season is in a better position for the WDC, in that case the lower placed driver has to drive in support of the other
This is to prevent either driver from claiming a “first lady” status from the team and was fundamental to the negotiations, and was accepted by both drivers.
4) Full cooperation will be maintained across the garage.
There will be no “walls” within the team, both drivers have to share every bit of technical info, and work together without holding back, Andrea Stella, who had special relation with Kimi during his last stint with Ferrari has build a strong relation with Fernando over the past 4 years and is likely to be the “liaison officer” between Kimi and Fernando.
5) I’m not really sure what is meant by the 5th point Turrini suggests exists.
Luck will be shared.
Apparently Ferrari, like everyone in life, need some luck as they try to combine Alpha (not Romeo) and Omega (not the watch).
I’m sorry Leo, but all that is a load of tosh. Firstly, how is the pact ‘secret’ when it’s all over a Ferrari expert sources blog? It’s defined as ‘secret’ so if Ferrari choose to break it, then it didn’t exist.
Then, are we seriously meant to believe that a an actual pact has been brokered between Kimi and Fernando? Well if the above is the actual content of some arrangement then it appears more of a dictat which marks Alonso’s card rather than Kimi’s.
Number 1 is to re-assure Kimi he will not be a Massa, Irvine Barichello et al…. and to inform Alonso not to dare to ask for such favours.
Number 2 is fairly equally directed, but it still feels as though Alonso is being warned as he has the more volatile temperament.
Number 3 Kimi has done before when he helped Massa in 2008. Alonso has not.
Number 4 Kimi doesn’t give a monkeys about politics and wouldn’t hide anything technical (even if he could be bothered to read and understand it).
Number 5. God only knows what that’s about….. sounds like an exemption clause of some kind awaiting to be invoked.
At least Il Padrino (LdM) brings some measure of sanity to all the Mills and Boon style F1 prose that’s been circulating the past week in Italy. Today he has spoken to La Gazetta dello Sport. He compares the rehiring of Kimi to that of Niki Lauda who also returned to F1 after a career break.
“Raikkonen’s case is almost identical to Lauda, Also Niki at a certain point said ‘enough’ because he couldn’t do it any more. I’m speaking of the twin brother of Kimi, because the driver who we had racing for us wasn’t the one we hired.
The break has done him good, he has returned to greatness, he’s won races, he’s finished lots of races. I wanted a driver who would make me look back on Massa with regret and I’ve got one. From Raikkonen I am demanding victories, consistency, podiums. Alonso will be the main beneficiary. Returning to Lauda, when he came back remember he beat Prost [his McLaren team mate] to the world championship.”
Maybe the ‘spread the love’ campaign hasn’t been working behind the scenes, and Fernando isn’t playing ball.
How much public humiliation will Fernando take? This statement feels like more corporal public punishment from Maranello. Last time it was the ‘tweak of the ear’ lobe from Il Padrino – is this time a good spanking of the Spanish botty from the Godfather’s cane?
Engineers are scratching their heads. Renault Sport F1 Deputy Managing Director (Technical) Rob White says the 2014 power units presents “the greatest technical challenge of all time“. The much anticipated [cough] power units for 2014 appear to be less reliable and more thirsty than initially thought.
AMuS correspondent Michael Schmidt reports that Ferrari had already lobbied the Technical Working Group to increase fuel allowance from 100kg to 110kg as they fear their engine is too thirsty. Add to this that none of the engines have completed more than 3000km on the dynos…
According to White even a cracked exhaust could have a devastating effect on the turbo while Lauda adds that the batteries are “a highly complicated topic, as they consist of 170 cells which, if not fitted with millimeter accuracy, the same thing happens as in the Boeing Dreamliner, which either causes a fire, or you have no power.“
The 2014 power units will consist of the basic 1.6l engine, turbocharger, ERS-k & ERS-h generators, batteries and power electronics. Each driver will be allocated 5 units per season with the components interchangeable but no more than five of each component can be used. There are now fears that we could see the latter part of the 2014 season with drivers having to replace components on the power units in excess of their 5 allowed and for each component they will be penalised 5 places.
So will we see the Mercedes’ feared 900+hp in qualifying? Not if we can believe Niki Lauda. Speaking to AMuS Lauda said he does not expect such a massive difference between qualifying and racing trim as “it is better to drive the motor at a constant effort…“
Add to this the cooling issues the engineers will have… for those of you who were hoping for a less Adrian Newey era you may just be lucky. According to White each degree the power unit runs to warm it will shorten the life of the unit.
Will we see more tactical driving next year? Either get out in front or stay far enough behind so your car does not overheat?
" title="hmm" /> original article here http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 20778.html but the main points are translated. the teams still have time to develop but this doesn't sound good in general for F1 next season. I don't like the title to be decided by reliability.
I think this is a brilliant interview about Kimi and Fernando by Rene Anoux. I read Russian translation, but posting a link of the original (in Italian) translated by Google into English
Zitat von DenorthI think this is a brilliant interview about Kimi and Fernando by Rene Anoux. I read Russian translation, but posting a link of the original (in Italian) translated by Google into English
Lotus wants to sort finances before deciding on 2014 F1 line-up By Jonathan Noble Thursday, September 26th 2013, 09:58 GMT taken from: autosport.com
ZitatLotus says a decision on who replaces Kimi Raikkonen next year is on hold until the team has sorted out its financial situation.
Raikkonen turned his back on Lotus for a switch to Ferrari after he grew frustrated that he could not be given assurances about the team's budget.
Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has revealed the priority for his outfit now is to finalise a deal with new investors Infinity Racing, which has been in the pipeline for several months now.
Why Lotus must sign Hulkenberg
Boullier reckons that only once he knows what the team's finances are like going forward can he make an informed decision about who to pick - with Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Massa the chief contenders for 2014.
"I want to finish what we wanted to show to Kimi, but we could not get done in time," Boullier told AUTOSPORT about his efforts to finalise the Infinity deal.
"I want to close this, because it is important for the team. It will give it the financial stability for more than five years and it will give us also two steps forward in terms of revenue, which is what we need after the last two years that were up and down
"After that, we can then think about the drivers for next year - but also for 2015, 2016, and 2017.
"So do we look for a youngster who can stay with us three years, or do we gamble on one year and see what is available on the market after that?"
Boullier's last comment is believed to relate to the fact that a number of top drivers - including Jenson Button and potentially Fernando Alonso - could be free agents in 12 months' time.
Although there has been speculation that Massa has major financial backing him behind him to secure a seat, Boullier says he has not been aware of any sponsorship incentive to take him.
However, he is interested in Massa because of his experience, which could prove invaluable ahead of the new 2014 regulations.
Boullier is adamant, however, that he wants to take the best driver that is available, rather than the one who brings the biggest commercial benefit.
Raikkonen: cash prompted Lotus exit
"I want to close the financial situation to make sure that we pick the driver on merit," he said.
"And then, if we are an attractive team with an attractive combination of drivers and we can get some sponsors, fine. But that is not the priority."
While one of the Lotus seats remains totally open, Boullier says there is no reason to believe that Romain Grosjean will not be kept on in 2014 if he keeps up his current good form.
"It would be a big mistake to change him - but he needs to keep doing the same," he explained. "It is now five races in a row that he is delivering.
"If he can do five he can do 10, and if he can do 10 then he can do the rest of his life. So this is the worst I wish him; to continue like this, because he is going to have a bright future."
I really think Lotus needs to have a meeting of the minds and work on their P.R. before they make a mess of the future of this team. There is so much negativity and negative press spewing from the F1 team right now that it might be best to readdress the situation as a collective group. And figure out a common ground before moving forward.
This deal with Infinity was supposed to be done around the Hungarian GP if I remember correctly. It's been so long, it's actually hard to remember. Lotus continues to miss deadlines. And I can't imagine it's an easy sell now that their undisputed #1 driver has left for Ferrari.
They really need to focus on completing the season very strongly. It's not unreasonable to think Lotus could overtake Ferrari or Mercedes if they get their act together. That's huge money going forward. And would be a great sales pitch for potential sponsors.
Their current philosophy of over-reacting to the press is making them look as disjointed as their presumed budget scenario. The team looks like it's in a mess! I was one who wanted Kimi to stay at Lotus for next year. But they continue to provide me with reasons that I'm glad he's moved on...
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