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Formula 1 2013; the wintertests have started!

Ferry_vO

Ferry_vO

Retired SOH Administrator
Time to take a look at the 2013 Formula 1 line-up; a few seats have switched, a few new faces and some retirements.
No major rule changes, just a bit of fine tuning here and there.
Photos borrowed from www.formule1.nl, taken at the first day of testing at Jerez.

Red Bull racing
Drivers
1.Sebastian Vettel
2.Mark Webber
Car: RB9
engine: Renault

racepictures_1360058428_41_zps668ff369.jpg


No big changes, the most important thing seems to be the purple colour on the car.. Potentially last year for Webber.?


Ferrari
Drivers
3.Fernando Alonso
4.Felipe Massa
Car: F138
Engine: Ferrari

racepictures_1360061952_95_zps950b3aee.jpg


Another 'make or break' year for Massa, who finished strong last season. Alonso is hoping his car will do better from the start after a problematic winter last year.

McLaren
Drivers
5.Jenson Button
6.Sergio Perez
Car: MP4/28
Engine: Mercedes

racepictures_1360061953_76_zpsf9dbd5c3.jpg


Hamilton left, being replaced by Sergio Perez who had some great races with Sauber in 2012, but some poor ones too. The car looks good but it remains to be seen if Button and Perez can win the title.

Lotus F1
Drivers
7.Kimi Raikkonen
8.Romain Grosjean
Car: E21
Engine: Renault

racepictures_1360078749_34_zpsc300b231.jpg


Both drivers stayed for 2013, even Grosjean. Let's hope he's learned a lot from last year.. If not, then GP2 champ Valsecchi is waiting for his chance to promote from test to race driver.


Mercedes-AMG
Drivers
9.Nico Rosberg
10. Lewis Hamilton
Car: MW04
Engine Mercedes

racepictures_1360061951_22_zpsb1a5fd20.jpg


Schumacher retired again, this time most likely permanent. Hamilton came over from McLaren. The team had a disastrous end of season last year, scoring six points in six races. Reliability and speed both issues last year. Has Hamilton made a bad choice, and how will he compare to Rosberg?
 
Sauber F1
Drivers
11.Nico Hulkenberg
12. Esteban Gutteriez
Car: C34
Engine: Ferrari

racepictures_1360061950_64_zpsc3ad5724.jpg


A new livery for Sauber and a new pair of drivers. Hulkenberg sidestepped over from Force India and Guttierez promoted from GP2 with financial aid from Telmex.
Can they repeat the great year they had last season?

Force India
Drivers
14.Paul di Resta
15.TBA
Car: VJM06
Engine: Mercedes

racepictures_1360058430_63_zpsb98f986d.jpg


Di Resta stayed (As he had no better options) and the second seat is still vacant. Looks like GP2 and Ferrari test driver Jules Bianchi has a good chance, but Adrian Sutil could make a return too.
Will Mallya's financial problems with Kingfisher airlines affect the F1 team?

Williams
Drivers
16.Pastor Maldonado
17.Valtteri Bottas
Car: FW35 (Old FW 34 on the photo, the new car will be unvealed February 19th.)
Engine: Renault

racepictures_1360058431_53_zpsec13a8bf.jpg


Young Finnish driver Bottas finally gets his chance, replacing Bruno Senna. Unguided missile Maldonado stays, together with an estimated $35 million dollars from Hugo Chavez.
One win last year but the rest of the season somewhat disappointing.

Scuderia Toro Rosso
Drivers
18.Daniel Ricciardo
19.Jean-Eric Vergne
Car:STR8
Engine: Ferrari

racepictures_1360058429_39_zpsf3c65c6b.jpg


Both drivers stayed for a crucial second year; one of them might be first in line to replace Webber next season.
The team will be hoping for a better season.

Caterham
Drivers
20.Giedo van der Garde
21.Charles Pic
Car: CT03
Engine: Renault

racepictures_1360061950_29_zpsa177d0d7.jpg


Two new drivers this year, Pic coming over from Marussia and Dutchman van der Garde making the step up from test driver. Will be battling with the STR's and Marussia's again.

Marussia
Drivers
22.Max Chilton
23.TBA
Car: MR02
Engine Cosworth

racepictures_1360065285_6_zps3385efb3.jpg


The last team to drive with the abysmal Cosworth engine (But now finally with KERS!) but last year they almost managed to finish ahead of Caterham. Chilton is another driver coming from GP2. Second seat probably going to the GP2 runner-up, Luiz Razia.

No more HRT this year, as they ran out of money. Talks with the American 'Scorpion group' have been rumored, but it's highly unlikely they'll make it to the start in Australia next month.
We also say goodbye to Michael Schumacher, Kamui Kobayashi, Bruno Senna, Heikki Kovalainen, Vitaly Petrov, Narain Kartikeyan, Pedro de la Rosa (Now another Ferrari test driver) and Timo Glock (Went to drive for BMW in the DTM.) though one or two could make a comeback in the vacant seats.

And finally the calender for this year (Race 10 being the cancelled race in New Jersey, the gap most likely won't be filled):

2013 FIA Formula One World Championship[SUP]®[/SUP] Race Calendar
01
 2013 FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (Melbourne)
15 - 17 Mar
02
 2013 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIA GRAND PRIX (Kuala Lumpur)
22 - 24 Mar
03
 2013 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX (Shanghai)
12 - 14 Apr
04
 2013 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX (Sakhir)
19 - 21 Apr
05
 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2013 (Catalunya)
10 - 12 May
06
 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2013 (Monte Carlo)
23 - 26 May
07
 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2013 (Montréal)
07 - 09 Jun
08
 2013 FORMULA 1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX (Silverstone)
28 - 30 Jun
09
 FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS VON DEUTSCHLAND 2013 (Nürburgring)
05 - 07 Jul
10
 TBA (TBA) *
 19 - 21 Jul
11
 FORMULA 1 MAGYAR NAGYDÍJ 2013 (Budapest)
26 - 28 Jul
12
 2013 FORMULA 1 SHELL BELGIAN GRAND PRIX (Spa-Francorchamps)
23 - 25 Aug
13
 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO D'ITALIA 2013 (Monza)
06 - 08 Sep
14
 2013 FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (Singapore)
20 - 22 Sep
15
 2013 FORMULA 1 KOREAN GRAND PRIX (Yeongam)
04 - 06 Oct
16
 2013 FORMULA 1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX (Suzuka)
11 - 13 Oct
17
 2013 FORMULA 1 AIRTEL INDIAN GRAND PRIX (New Delhi)
25 - 27 Oct
18
 2013 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX (Yas Marina)
01 - 03 Nov
19
 2013 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX (Austin)
15 - 17 Nov
20
 FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL 2013 (São Paulo)
22 - 24 Nov

<tbody>
</tbody>
 
Looking forward to it...
Next month will be my 34th consecutive Australian Grand Prix as a Race Official. I started out in 1980 [with the AGPs] at Calder...80 t0 84 then 85 to 95 in Adelaide and since then at Albert Park. My avatar is a cartoon character I drew...me in Adelaide GP livery.
Comms/Observer at all of those, hence the 'JAFO' ...;)

Worst part being at the beginning of the season is getting used to recognising the new team colours....and spotting the numbers [they deliberately hide them in an attempt to stuff up our incident reports] at 320k....;)
 
The lowest startnumber (Within a team) has a red T-cam, the other a yellow one.. ;-)

Except for Sauber the cars have pretty much the same colours as last season so that should make it a 'bit' easier.
 
All totally underwhelming again!

Those front 'aerodynamic devices' are bloody ridiculous, more 'wings' than a complete Jasta of Fokker Triplanes!
Some very strange happenings on the driver front, probably governed by money, then again, everything else is so nothing new there.
Kamui Kobayashi, Bruno Senna, Heikki Kovalainen, Vitaly Petrov and Timo Glock should have ALL been retained, driver stability is the only way to ensure continuity within any team.

"And finally the calendar for this year (Race 10 being the cancelled race in New Jersey, the gap most likely won't be filled."
No surprise there Ferry, it was never really going to happen in the first place, and I expect the flood damage made sure of that.

"Schumacher retired again, this time most likely permanent."
Well, he has been rehearsing all last year. :kilroy:

I expect Mark would be considering this season as his last, he would find life much easier and there would certainly be a drive waiting for him here in the Tintop series.
That series of ersatz Australian Grands Prix in the early 1980s were entertaining, those Formula Pacific cars were really nice to drive ..................................................................:applause:

As for the AGP, meh, I might take the RS along, the usual suspects have requested her presence but even the free passes and hospitality can't get me enthused.
Then again, it is close to our Docklands apartment.
 
wombat666 said:
All totally underwhelming again!


That series of ersatz Australian Grands Prix in the early 1980s were entertaining, those Formula Pacific cars were really nice to drive ..................................................................:applause:

.
Click to expand...

They were legitimate Australian Grands Prix. The AGP is the world's second longest running GP [after France].
I met Peroni there [before he took himself out in GP boats]... back when Frank still had 2 legs that worked...and AJ actually WAS 'something' in Motor Racing [still dining out on his 5 minutes all these years later].
BTW...he has the outright lap time at Calder...never to be beaten....32 seconds flat [and it was flat too ...springs were removed] ....just the scrape-scrape of skirts....
Moreno kept beating the fair-dinkum 'real' drivers....Prost, Piquet, Gilles ....and that famous Irish F1 driver....we called him 'Jack O'malley'...;)
These days you get "Race start" over the comms...... back then it was "They're all yours, Repco" to which I'd reply "No thanks, send them back..."

I do remember the Williams being a little 'spooky' as it was still accelerating at the 100m mark.....and at the 50m mark going into Repco....he'd hit the anchors about 25 from the apex....scrape past me...drop a cog or two and disappear up the back straight.....and half a minute later he was back again...;)
 
wombat666 said:
All totally underwhelming again!

Those front 'aerodynamic devices' are bloody ridiculous, more 'wings' than a complete Jasta of Fokker Triplanes!
Some very strange happenings on the driver front, probably governed by money, then again, everything else is so nothing new there.
Kamui Kobayashi, Bruno Senna, Heikki Kovalainen, Vitaly Petrov and Timo Glock should have ALL been retained, driver stability is the only way to ensure continuity within any team.
Click to expand...

Kamui did OK, but was outclassed by Perez mostly. Kovalainen drove circles round Petrov, but is probably considered too old and can't pay for a seat. Senna showed nothing this year or any previous year except a lot of cash. Glock did well in the Marussia but they had to drop him because the team needed two paydrivers.

As for the aerodynamics; I love that stuff myself, seeing how they use every part of the car to bend the air to go where they need it. Lots of creative thinking there; I wonder how they would design an aircraft..

Meanwhile in Jerez Mercedes seems to be having a bad start; yesterday Roberg's car caught fire after twelve laps, today Hamilton crashed after thirteen laps with a rear brake failure. Two days, only 25 laps..
 
Yes, re the aerodynamics ....it's always interesting to look back through the seasons just to see how the shapes have evolved. Sure, some of it was formula restriction...some of it was engine size [turbos made 'em bigger....and there was a few seasons they burned well [Adelaide]], but each time the formula altered to 'slow them down through corners - safer' within half a season or so lap times were back up again...all thanks mostly to the aero [and tyres].
Heaven knows what'd happen if you combined the 'best' bits of each generation of formula.... the result would likely be horrifying...;)
 
The last test session was yesterday; hard to tell anything from all those days, but Mercedes have been consistently strong. McLaren looked good too, as did Ferrari. Red bull seemed to be 'hiding' a bit.

At Marussia Luis Razia has been replaced by Jules Bianchi (Ferrari development program driver) after Razia's sponsors didn't pay, and at Force India Adrian Sutil makes his return.
 
Getting into 'race mode' here....not long to Albert Park.
If anyone's watching it....I'm on 5.8 right [comms]....and promise to wave...;)
Wifey's in Sector 1 .... so will likely be sweeping up the odd mess or two...;)
 
I'm ambivalent about attending this year, if it's stinking hot or pouring rain I'm out.
FTR, we've had some very strange weather patterns over the last 12 months and 40C is possible even if we are into Autumn!!
Equally, a serious rain depression could settle over the state.
If we go there's a choice of 'Hospitality' (aka 'Freebies') if we take the 911 or the GT40R ................................ I'd rather take the 916 if the weather is OK.
Decisions, decisions!
:isadizzy:

"They were legitimate Australian Grands Prix. The AGP is the world's second longest running GP [after France].
I met Peroni there [before he took himself out in GP boats]... back when Frank still had 2 legs that worked...and AJ actually WAS 'something' in Motor Racing [still dining out on his 5 minutes all these years later].
BTW...he has the outright lap time at Calder...never to be beaten....32 seconds flat [and it was flat too ...springs were removed] ....just the scrape-scrape of skirts....
Moreno kept beating the fair-dinkum 'real' drivers....Prost, Piquet, Gilles ....and that famous Irish F1 driver....we called him 'Jack O'malley'".

I did know that Jafo, in fact my very first 'Grand Prix' was in 1955 with my Dad.
The five events run at Calder were (I believe) a 'taster' for a full on World Championship round as finally awarded to Adelaide.
The first Calder one was one of those Bob Jane promoted events to celebrate Jonesy winning his title, what a motley collection of cars!!
He was quick indeed, and 'Jack O'Mally' was impressive as well, shame the Alfa ran out of steam after Bruno and Jonsey took themselves off into the weeds.
Not sure what Pironi thought about driving a Ground Effects F5000, in the end he drove and MR8 while Gary Cooper took on the MR9, sadly the last of the Elfin line IIRC.
Interesting that we had only two genuine F1 cars entered and it was Jones, Giacomelli and Pironi on the podium.


Yes indeed, Roberto Moreno was so good it was a bloody shame he never managed to get a real works F1 drive.

The move to Formula Pacific only was a good one, the 1982 entry was a nice mix, and both 1983 and '84 fields included several F1 'names'.
TBC, I'm looking for photographs!!
 
Jafo said:
Getting into 'race mode' here....not long to Albert Park.
If anyone's watching it....I'm on 5.8 right [comms]....and promise to wave...;)
Wifey's in Sector 1 .... so will likely be sweeping up the odd mess or two...;)
Click to expand...
Sector one at Albert Park is always the messy part... :D Specially the chicane after the DRS zone, turn 4?

Quite cool you and the wife being officials... I'm just a HUGE fan, and lucky to be off to the British GP this year again :D

As for Webber retiring... not so sure. The usual guff about him 'thinking' is likely to annoy him and make him drive harder, a typical calculated move. But... on the other side, they don't want him upstaging the golden boy... With Webber as a 'team player' they have a sure defense for the title hopes. Not two young hot heads vying to win and getting into scrapes together. Two level headed drivers that can play their roles. politics with v8s.
 
Wednesday night....tomorrow's the start of it all....
....well, Friday is, F1-wise....ready to roll...;)
 
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