Category: Formula 1

HRT’s new F112 is another latecomer to the 2012 F1 season and like Marussia the Spanish team has only managed promotional runs ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.

Acknowledged as a perennial backmarker it’s the first time HRT has been able to fire their car up prior to the first race. Luis Péres-Sala, Team Principal, said, “I’m very proud of each and every member of this team because everyone has contributed their little bit for this to be possible. Now we have to focus on Australia because we still have a lot ahead.”

HRT will have two new drivers this year, although both with previous F1 experience. Pedro de la Rosa moves back into full-time racing after spending several years as McLaren’s official test driver. He’s joined by Narain Karthikeyan, also back into a regular F1 seat after his debut with Jordan back in 2005 and a limited schedule with HRT last year.

Last week the Marussia F1 team revealed the MR01, their 2012 challenger. After failing an FIA crash test in late February the team has only managed to squeeze in a couple of promotional drives, meaning the car will get its first real test until later this week.

Team Principal John Booth explained, “so while the drivers will be able to get a feel for the car, they won’t be able to draw any real conclusions until we start running in anger in Melbourne.”

Marussia enjoys a partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies and it’s interesting to note the MR01 and McLaren’s MP4-27 are the only cars which don’t feature the controversial platypus style nose.

Timo Glock returns to the driving seat for Marussia this year and he will joined by 22-year-old French rookie Charles Pic.

Former Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari has expressed doubts over the F1 future of Robert Kubica. In a recent interview with BBC Radio Alguersuari claimed Kubica is struggling to overcome the injuries suffered in his rally accident at the start of last year.

“At the moment the latest information I have about him is not very good. He cannot drink using his hand—I mean, he cannot take a glass and drink—so it doesn’t look very good. I think his injuries are more than expected,” Alguersuari said.

Meanwhile, an unnamed friend of Kubica’s has provided a more positive update, saying the 27-year-old is showing positive signs.

“He drives his road car and goes out by himself. He is still building up the strength in his right arm,” explained Kubica’s friend. “It will be June or July before it can be determined if he is fit enough to test a F1 car.”

[Source: FoxSports | Pic: Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic]

Sergio Perez has recorded the fastest time so far in any of the seven pre-season test days at Barcelona. And with just one day of testing to go before the Australian Grand Prix things are getting tight at the top of the timesheet.

Perez negotiated the Circuit de Catalunya in 1:22.094, just nine one thousandths ahead of Jenson Button. While Australian young gun Daniel Ricciardo was six one hundredths back. Indeed, less than one second covered the first nine drivers.

Lotus, fastest on the previous two days with Romain Grosjean at the wheel, were relegated to slowest in the hands of Kimi Raikkonen. The 2007 world champion complained about the steering in the E20 and the team lost around an hour to rectify the problem.

Light afternoon rain interrupted proceedings in the afternoon with most teams attempting race simulations. A few drivers went out on intermediates, while some chose to remain indoors.

Red Bull ran a new update, including revised exhaust layout and new front wing. However, seeing Webber only eighth fastest is not of any real concern. He did not do any qualifying-style runs and was still within touching distance of Perez.

Although, Webber is cautious about reading pre-season form and expects stiff competition in Melbourne. “Everyone today was in the 1m22s so that is not hanging around at Barcelona these days. So there are a lot of quick teams, a lot of fast cars and we need to continue to work hard,” Webber said in an interview with Autosport.

When asked if he thought the field was closer at the top than it had been in recent years Mark replied, “I think so, the pack is very tight. As I touched on several times that we have run, it is very tight between all the teams and Q2 [in Melbourne] will be interesting.”

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[Source: Autosport | Pic: Sauber Motorsport AG]