Category: Formula 1

Categories
Ferrari Formula 1

Ferrari F138 v F2012

Ferrari F138 v F2012

Last year’s Ferrari was a bit of a mess. Awful to look at, even by the team’s own admission, and inconsistent on the track. Yet, somehow, Fernando Alonso very nearly won the major prize. No doubt Maranello is hoping for bigger and better things from their 2013 machine.

If nothing else, the F138 is much better to look at, even though it will never rank highly on the list of the most beautiful F1 cars ever made.

There’s four more images for you below, along with the expert analysis on the F138 from Craig Scarborough.

Continue reading “Ferrari F138 v F2012”
Categories
Ferrari Formula 1

Ferrari unveils 2013 F1 car

2013 Ferrari F138

Here’s the new Ferrari F138, the car they hope will propel Fernando Alonso to the 2013 world championship. Once you discount this year’s latest fad, the modesty panel hiding the god awful noses we saw last year, then this Ferrari is not terribly different to look at compared with the F2012.

Simone Resta, Deputy Chief Designer, explains they have made significant changes to the F138’s suspension. “There were very few changes to the regulations, but nevertheless we chose to work on and modify all aspects of the car, trying to move forward in every area, because we felt there was a significant amount of performance that could be gained with this new car,” he said.

“I would say the biggest changes relate to the front suspension, which has an improved layout, while at the rear, the suspension is completely new. We also have a revised sidepod design, aimed at improving the aerodynamics in this area, as well as a completely new layout for the exhaust system.”

You sense that Ferrari had a bit of a love hate relationship with last year’s car and they hope they have put things right, even if there’s still some changes to come before the season starts in Australia.

“The car we will race in Melbourne will be quite different to the one seen at the launch and the first test,” continues Resta. “In the past few weeks we have improved and indeed in those ahead of us now, we can improve further, the performance of the car, which guarantees that the F138 in Melbourne will be significantly different to the F138 at Test 1…and hopefully quicker.

“I am reasonably happy with the car so far as there was a significant performance gap to be closed, something which we cannot deny, but I think we have done a good job in all areas, trying to cover all the weak points of its predecessor.”

There’s more photos after the break, along with Ferrari’s full press blurb and more insightful commentary from Craig Scarborough.

Continue reading “Ferrari unveils 2013 F1 car”
Categories
Formula 1 McLaren

McLaren MP4-28 v MP4-27

McLaren MP4-28 v MP4-27

Just like the title says, here is a comparison of the new McLaren MP4-28 and its predecessor the MP4-27. Side on profile and overhead images have been compared, with the 2013 car appearing first.

There are differences, but you do have to look closely!

Continue reading “McLaren MP4-28 v MP4-27”
Categories
Formula 1 McLaren

VIDEO: McLaren unveils MP4-28

McLaren is celebrating its 50th birthday this year and to kick off the launch of their 2013 F1 car they dusted off some of their most significant racecars in their proud history to serve as a reminder of the great things the team has achieved in that time. Then, of course, it was time for Jenson Button and Sergio Perez to reveal the MP4-28 for the first time.

Here’s a list of the cars featured in the video:

Categories
Formula 1 McLaren

McLaren unveils 2013 F1 car

McLaren MP4-28

McLaren has just taken the wraps off its new MP4-28. For the time being they’ve only published a selection of pics from the launch itself. With any luck there’ll be some clean studio images soon showing the car in a better light.

We do have for you a copy of the car’s press pack, available below in PDF form.

We can tell you the MP4-28 is visually very similar to its predecessor, however we’re told it’s a very different car under the skin. Interestingly, the MP4-28 does feature a stepped nose, but it’s hidden beneath a “vanity panel”.

“The MP4-28 isn’t merely a refinement of last year’s seven-race-winning car, it’s a deep and sweeping re-design of an already successful chassis in several key areas—most notably around the nose and front suspension, the sidepod profiles and the rear bodywork,” the official team statement reads.

Of course, as well as a new car, McLaren has a new driver pairing for 2013, with 23-year-old Mexican Sergio Perez to race alongside Jenson Button.

UPDATE: Three new studio images added below.

UPDATE #2: Think the MP4-28 looks just like last year’s car, then watch the new video added below with some great analysis from Peter Winsdor and Craig Scarborough.

Continue reading “McLaren unveils 2013 F1 car”
Categories
Formula 1

Schedule for 2013 F1 pre-season testing

F1 Jerez pre-season testing, February 2012

The reason we’re about to see a rush of F1 launches is for the simple fact that pre-season testing is just around the corner. Indeed the first on-track action for the year kicks off early next week, on Tuesday 5 February.

2013 F1 pre-season testing

5–8 February – Jerez
19–22 February – Barcelona
28 February–3 March – Barcelona

[Pic: Ferrari]

Categories
Formula 1

Schedule for 2013 F1 car launches

2013 Lotus F1 Team E21

Lotus got in first with their E21 and McLaren has just taken the wraps off its brand new MP4-28 (we’re waiting on the official release of pics). And by this time next week all 2013 F1 cars, except Williams’ and Marussia’s, will be revealed.

Stay tuned to AUSmotive over the coming days as we’ll bring you the latest wallpaper sized pics and press material from the world of F1.

2013 F1 launches

Lotus – Monday 28 January
McLaren – Thursday 31 January
Ferrari – Friday 1 February
Force India – Friday 1 February
Sauber – Saturday 2 February
Red Bull Racing – Sunday 3 February
Mercedes – Monday 4 February
Toro Rosso – Monday 4 February
Caterham – Tuesday 5 February
Marussia – Tuesday 5 February
Williams – Tuesday 19 February

Categories
Ferrari Formula 1

Ferrari names new F1 car the F138

Ferrari F138 logo

Ferrari has confirmed the launch for its 2013 F1 car will take place in Maranello on Friday. They have also told the world their latest challenger will be called the F138. The numbers reference the year, 2013, and the final season F1 will use a V8 engine configuration.

Until the end of the 2005 season Formula 1 used 3.0 litre V10 engines, before switching to the current specification of 2.4 litre V8s. Next year will usher in new engine regs which specify all teams must use a turbocharged 1.6 litre V6.

We’ll bring you images and info from Ferrari following the unveiling of the F138.

Continue reading “Ferrari names new F1 car the F138”
Categories
Formula 1 News

Mark Webber slams Lance Armstrong

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber has used his final column for the BBC, for the time being, to unload his thoughts on Lance Armstrong. The 36-year-old Aussie reveals he sought inspiration form Armstrong around 1999–2000 while reflecting on his grandfather’s battle with cancer.

“One of my biggest heroes, and one of the biggest influences on my life, was my grandfather. The last year and a half of his life was torturous. He had the most brutal finish to his life with cancer, and that knocked me around because it knocked my dad around. I was 14,” said Webber.

But rather than simply use the Lance Armstrong story, Webber looked deeper. In 2001 he made contact with the staff at the Indiana University Medical Centre who helped Armstrong through his recovery.

“Curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to see the people who had treated him and ask some questions about how he was, knowing full well I’d probably get as far as the reception and that would be it.

“But two days later I got a phone call from Latrice Haney, the nurse who worked very closely with Lance. She’s the one Armstrong describes as a real angel—it’s one of the things he did get right as she was a lovely, kind-natured person.

“She was super-professional throughout and said he had been very tough; he’d really fought the cancer hard,” wrote Webber.

After Mark gained entry into F1 and his profile grew, opportunities to meet Armstrong soon came.

“Then, through friends of friends, I got to spend some time with Lance, did some rides with him and went to his ranch when I was in Texas after the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix.

“It was such a big thing for me at the time. I jumped into Dead Man’s Hole with him and some of his mates; it’s a place he describes in the book as making him feel alive after his cancer survival.”

Continue reading “Mark Webber slams Lance Armstrong”
Categories
Formula 1 Lotus

Lotus E20 v E21 comparison

Lotus E20 v E21

As the first F1 car revealed for season 2013 it’s an opportune time to compare the new Lotus E21 alongside its predecessor, the E20. The image above is taken from the 2013 Lotus F1 Team media kit (see here) and for extra comparison we’ve compared old and new in a series of three images after the break.

Continue reading “Lotus E20 v E21 comparison”
Categories
Formula 1 Lotus

Lotus unveils 2013 F1 car

2013 Lotus F1 Team E21

Sounding more and more like an old BMW model, this is the E21, the car the Lotus F1 Team, hopes will propel them to greater heights in the 2013 season.

Here at Ausmotive HQ we were hoping to see the end of the terrible ‘platypus’ nose design from last year. But it seems as though Lotus thought the addition of some more red paint, further diluting the classic Lotus livery from the 1970s and 80s, would be enough to distract people’s attention that, really, this car looks pretty much like last year’s E20.

To be fair there’s not been a lot of regulation changes in the off-season. It’s the calm before the storm that the new 2014 regs will bring in, with the switch the turbocharged V6 engines being the major change.

There’s more pics for you after the break and some introductory motherhood statements from the key Lotus men. We’ll update this post a bit later with more fluffy text from Enstone as well.

UPDATE 29 January: Q&A interviews from Kimi Raikkonnen, Romain Grosjean, Eric Boullier and James Allison have been added below, along with a special bonus right at the end.

Continue reading “Lotus unveils 2013 F1 car”
Categories
Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Williams shareholder to replace Uncle Norbert

Williams F1

The man Mercedes-Benz has lined up to replace the loveable Uncle Norbert as its Director of Motorsport is sure to raise a few eyebrows around the F1 paddock. For that man is none other than former racer and Williams shareholder Toto Wolff, the BBC reports. For good measure Toto is also the partner of Williams’ development driver and Mercedes DTM racer Susie Wolff.

Wolff has played an active role in Williams’ operations, filling the void left by the departure of Adam Parr almost 12 months ago. It’s uncertain if the 41-year-old will be forced to sell his shares in Williams (around 16% of the company), but he will, of course, have to depart his official role of Executive Director.

Mercedes is yet to confirm the appointment of Wolff, but an announcement is expected in the next few days. Wolff will work alongside triple world champion Niki Lauda, who has taken on the role of Non-executive Chairman with the Mercedes F1 Team.

To round out this story rather nicely, Toto’s role will also include overseeing Mercedes’ DTM efforts. And what makes that worth noting is the fact this position will, in effect, make him his wife’s boss. Among many things, we wonder what his policy on sex before race meetings might be.

[Source: BBC]

UPDATE: This news has now been confirmed by Williams, their official statement can be read below.

UPDATE 22 January: Following suit Mercedes-Benz has now published its official statement, which can also be read below.

Continue reading “Williams shareholder to replace Uncle Norbert”