I Bet Your Scalectrix Set Didn’t Have One of These
Ex-manager of Toyota Richard Cregan explains to Timo Glock the layout of the Abu Dhabi circuit. Cregan moved on to management at the new Yas Marina circuit, who have today revealed a new game to introduce fans to the track.
Credit: Toyota Motorsport GmbH
30-Jun-09: Abu Dhabi Release More Track Info
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It’s the 30th June 2009 and this is F1 Minute.
The Yas Marina Circuit released an online game today, which supposedly allows fans to have a go round the track and try and set a fast time. I couldn’t get it to load, so we’ll have to take their word on that. Meanwhile, ex-Toyota employee and CEO of the track management Richard Cregan has offered an insight to the game which presumably translates to the real life track as well: “Whether you are accelerating down the longest straight on any Formula 1 circuit, skidding off the track under the grandstand, tackling the tricky Marina and Yas Yacht Club corners or driving beneath The Yas Hotel, every lap offers a challenge.”
Also, yesterday it was confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen will appear in the World Rally Championship in Finland, competing against Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen. Kimi has taken part in a couple of non-championship events but will take to the stage with a Fiat in the gap between Hungary and Valencia at the end of July.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
Bridgestone Motorsport announce tyre specifications
Bridgestone, the Official Tyre Supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship, is pleased to announce the compound allocations of Potenza tyres for a further four rounds of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship.
For the four races from the Hungarian Grand Prix to the Italian Grand Prix Bridgestone will depart from its concept of leaving a gap in rubber stiffness between the two allocated tyres for each race, meaning that consecutive compound pairings are allocated for each of these races. Bridgestone’s intermediate and wet tyres will continue to be brought to all races.
Both allocations of dry tyres have to be used in each race, unless the intermediate or wet tyres are used, meaning that competitors need to find the best compromise to utilise the potential of both tyres. The means of distinguishing between the two compounds on event is by green bands painted on the edges of the tyre sidewalls of the softer tyres at a race. Green is the colour in order to show Bridgestone’s support of the FIA’s Make Cars Green campaign.
Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development, says:
“We have made the change to the tyre allocation concept based on the data we have collected from races so far this year combined with our knowledge of the tracks we visit for these races. The cars of 2009 are very different to those used last year so we have learnt a lot so far this year, and they do use their tyres differently from before.
Hungary is a circuit where the characteristics demand our softest tyres. This is also true for street courses, and we used the softest allocation earlier in the year at Monaco, and will again in Valencia. In Spa the weather temperatures can be quite cool, so the hard compound could have caused difficulties, and the super soft would have been too soft for this track, so that means the allocation of medium and soft is obvious. In Monza the hard compound would have given too big a difference between it and the soft, so we will bring the soft and the medium.”
Tyre compounds for the 2009 season:
Competitive Rivalry
Christian Horner has confirmed that neither driver in Red Bull will be favoured over the other. He says that both Webber and Vettel are excellent drivers who combine to make a really strong team, and that both are getting updates to the car at the same time.
Credit: Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images
29-Jun-09: McLaren Next to Look to 2010
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Welcome to F1 Minute for the 29th June 2009.
Ferrari have already hinted that they are about to push 2009 under the carpet and turn their attention to 2010. Now, Heikki Kovalainen has said that McLaren are doing the opposite, and are trying to learn from their struggles. However, he does note that they could be preparing for next year as well, saying: “It is still important to keep pushing and trying different concepts and different directions, especially with the aerodynamics – the floor, the wings, to understand and make sure that the philosophy of next year’s car is correct. It will be different to this year’s car.” Let’s hope so.
Meanwhile, Christian Horner has confronted the age old question regarding team orders but says that at Red Bull, there will be full driver equality. He says: “There is no number one driver. Updates are being introduced to the cars equally at every race, and that’s the way it will continue for the rest of the season.”
That’s all for now, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
Life’s a Struggle
Heikki Kovalainen has said that McLaren are learning from their struggles in 2009 and using it to their advantage both in this year and in preparation for 2010. He admitted that new parts introduced at races are also being evaluated for the next season.
Credit: www.mclaren.com
28-Jun-09: Mosley Confirms Pressure for Re-Election
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This is F1 Minute for the 28th June 2009.
I’ve avoided the political wranglings for the last few days, but here is a quick catchup of what has happened since peace supposedly broke out in Formula 1.
Once Max had announced he would not stand for re-election in October, then FOTA held a press conference saying how happy they were. They said some things that got on the FIA President’s nerves and he announced that he wasn’t necessarily out of the picture and if enough people want him to remain as President, then he will stand for election again.
FOTA, wisely enough, did not respond to this, and so far most of the noise has come from the FIA’s side. Now Mosley is saying: “They made the mistake of dancing on my grave before I was buried. I am under pressure now from all over the world to stand for re-election. I don’t actually want to. I feel I am a little bit too old.” And he added: “But if there is going to be a big conflict with the car industry, for example, with the FOTA teams, then I won’t stop.”
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
Turning to 2010
Ferrari have hinted they may be switching their attention to the 2010 season after conceding that some grey areas in this year’s regulations, plus the lack of in season testing, has seriously hampered their chances at defending their title.
27-Jun-09: Ferrari Suggest Attention Will Turn to 2010
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This is F1 Minute for the 27th June 2009.
I’m sure this is not in direct response to Rosberg’s warning yesterday that Williams are catching Ferrari up, but the defending constructor’s champions have hinted that they could be switching their attention to the 2010 season.
Naturally, it all depends on what happens with the FIA and that nonsense is still ongoing, but Luca di Montezemolo has said: “I am very confident we can improve our performances in the next race, and then we will be fully concentrated on next year’s car, without KERS, with clear rules…” He seems to blame the grey areas in this year’s regulations, ie. the double diffuser, plus the lack of in-season testing, for the teams inability to drastically improve.
On the subject of KERS, Martin Whitmarsh said this week it is circumstance that has seen the system fail in Formula 1, rather than anything wrong with the devices themselves. He says that the concept was good but to introduce a new technology costs an awful lot, and that is not where F1 is heading at the moment.
That’s all for now, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
Mission Ferrari
Nico Rosberg is chased by Felipe Massa during the Grand Prix at Silverstone. Nico has issued a rather optimistic warning to Ferrari, suggesting that Williams are catching them up, now that they have already won the development race against McLaren.
Credit: Charles Coates/LAT Photographic