Category: Formula 1

A quick reminder for the dates of this year’s Formula One winter test schedule. First up is Valencia this Tuesday:

• Valencia, 1–3 February
• Jerez, 10–13 February
• Barcelona, 18–21 February
• Bahrain, 3–6 March

In addition most teams will be revealing their cars in the next couple of days as well. The team we know from last year as Lotus, the team we know this year as Lotus Renault GP and Sauber are all scheduled to unveil their 2011 F1 cars later today (31 January).

Tomorrow, on the morning of the first official test session of the year (1 February), four more teams will show their cars for the first time: Mercedes GP, Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Williams.

McLaren will not show their car until after the Valencia test window has closed, they’re due to reveal their 2011 racer on 4 February. Virgin will be a few days later on 7 February.

HRT are expected to run at the first three tests using their 2010 car, with their 2011 car to be used at the final test window in Bahrain. The launch date for Force India is currently unknown.

Last night we received an intriguing email from Williams F1. It reveals plans for the company’s future, beyond that of Sir Frank Williams’ tenure. Williams F1 is currently owned by founders Williams and Patrick Head. A third slice was carved up for part-time racer Toto Wolff in November 2009.

The statement, available in full after the break, claims Williams F1 believes a possible future via the stock exchange is the best way forward to remain an independent constructor.

In addition to the words from Frank Williams there’s a short Q&A with Adam Parr, Williams F1 CEO. Oddly, perhaps, Parr is quick to dispel speculation that Sir Frank is about to retire or suffering poor health.

Have a read and let us know what you think. And, if you could, would you put your money where Sir Frank’s mouth is?

Pirelli has just finished up its private testing program ahead of the 2011 Formula One season. The latest round of testing took place in Abu Dhabi on the Yas Marina F1 circuit and was the first time Pirelli’s new tyres had been run in the wet and at night.

Pirelli has now covered 13,000km of testing, using an old Toyota TF109 chassis. Former F1 drivers Nick Heidfeld, Roman Grosjean and Pedro de la Rosa have been at the wheel during Pirelli’s test regime.

In addition to Yas Marina, development sessions have been run at several tracks including, Mugello, Monza, Barcelona, Valencia, Jerez, Le Castellet and Bahrain.

Further testing of Pirelli’s new rubber will take place in the official sessions for the F1 teams, with the first session scheduled in Valencia from 1–4 February. Shortly after that the F1 circus moves to Jerez, from 10–13 February. The final test days are set for Barcelona, from 18–21 February.

The 2011 Formula One season will begin at the Bahrain Grand Prix on 13 March.

More after the break, including pics, video and two detailed press releases; make sure you download the PDF too.

Autosport brings word that Pirelli expects its tyres will make a significant contribution to the excitement of races in the 2011 Formula One season. Pirelli Motorsport Director, Paul Hembery, said, “We hope to have at least two tyre changes in every race. We want to try to create more of a show.”

Pirelli’s goal of making tyres that cannot last a majority of race distance might seem like a backward step, but last year’s Bridgestone tyres were heavily criticised for being too durable. It was felt this aspect made for long and boring races. In theory, the Pirelli approach makes sense. Let’s hope it works that way in practice, too.

Hembery was trackside at Abu Dhabi for the company’s first day of wet weather testing. There’s one more day to go and you can see pics over at the Autosport gallery.

The first race at Bahrain is under two months away now (13 March) and the F1 teams will start revealing their cars later this month and in early February. We’ll bring coverage of those events as they happen.

[Source: Autosport]

You may never have heard of the name Rainer Schlegelmilch. However, with almost 50 years spent photographing Formula One it’s a fair bet you’ve probably seen his work.

Last year the Proud Camden gallery in London held an exhibition of Rainer’s photos titled The Golden Age of Formula 1. There are some stunning images included, as you’d expect, and the frozen details transport you back to a much simpler time. Here’s a review of the exhibition from The Guardian.

German audiovisual producers Stereoscreen were able to spend some time with Schlegelmilch in his studio. More importantly for us, they were able to document this visit in the form of a five minute short film. Unfortunately the interview is only in German, but the visuals are enough to make this a very worthwhile clip; check it out after the break.

If you like what you see, then spend some time poking around Rainer Schlegelmilch’s official website. If you still want more, why not go to your favourite online bookstore and type “The Golden Age of Formula 1” into the search field. Our copy should be here in a few weeks.