Really really cool footage of the Formula One RB07 car at the Top Gear Festival in Durban taken by Charlene Sprong (@LeneZone). We are absolutely green with envy!
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Top Gear Festival – Mika Hakkinen, Sasha Martinengo, Gugu Zulu racing Tuk Tuks
Charlene Sprong (@LeneZone) sent us this video of Mika Hakkinen, Sasha Martinengo and Gugu Zulu racing Tuk Tuks at the Top Gear Festival in Durban on the 15th of June. Hilariously great fun!
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F1 Video: Ross Brawn’s Stance on the Outcome of Testgate
Ross Brawn talks to Sky Sports about his stance on the outcome of the F1 Testgate FIA International Tribunal Hearing.
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Mercedes escape F1 Testgate with a slap on the wrist
The International Tribunal announced today that Mercedes will be suspended from the upcoming Young Drivers Test in Silverstone and handed both the team and Pirelli a reprimand for their parts in the Testgate saga.
Following a 7 hour hearing on Thursday and a morning of deliberating on the verdict it was announced that both parties were guilty and were being punished for contravening sporting regulations.
The panel decided that Mercedes did act in breach of Article 22.4 of the sporting regulations which forbids any in-season testing with a current car and ruled that they “did maintain some material advantage” which “at least potentially, gave it an unfair sporting advantage.
Both Mercedes and Pirelli were also found to be in breach of Articles 1 and 151 of the International Sporting Code which covers cases of bringing the sport into disrepute.
One would expect a rather hefty punishment for such serious breaches of regulations but mitigating factors came into play. The panel found that there was no intention by either Pirelli or Mercedes to gain “any unfair sporting advantage”. They also found that neither Pirelli nor Mercedes acted in bad faith. Further they found that Pirelli and Mercedes “disclosed to the FIA at least the essence of what they intended to do in relation to the test and attempted to obtain permission for it; and Mercedes had no reason to believe that approval had not been given”. Lastly that the actions of Charlie Whiting, who had indicated the test would be permissible, were “taken in good faith and with the intention of assisting the parties and consistent with sporting fairness”.The end result? A slap on the wrist really. The panel chose to hand down the punishment suggested by Mercedes themselves during the hearing.
Let’s take a look at what this Testgate “punishment” really means. There is absolutely no doubt that Mercedes got off very lightly when one considers the rules they are said to have breached.
The first question is around the reprimand. I’d really like to know what a reprimand really is because the FIA seems to hand out a great deal of them. As far as I know a reprimand is something along the lines of, “That was very naughty boys! Bad, bad behaviour!”.
If that’s the punishment for breaching F1 regulations, why would any teams bother adhering to rules in future?
What is really perplexing though is the young driver test suspension which the panel handed down in order to place the other teams “in a similar position to that in which Mercedes is in”. Really? A similar position? How is a 3 day test with senior drivers, on a circuit you have all to yourself in any way similar to a 3 day test with rookie drivers on a circuit with 9 other teams?
The real losers here are the young drivers who will now no longer be able to take part in the F1 test they have no doubt been dreaming about for the last couple of months. Sam Bird, who would have driven in the young driver test for Mercedes is the guy who’s really getting punished at the end of the day. A real pity that.
If this is the punishment, then one has to believe that it is entirely farcical. A big show from the FIA so that they are able to say that they did in fact hand down a punishment. The FIA were in the wrong here in the first place since they really did allow the test as the evidence showed. They
would of course never put their hands up and say they were in the wrong so it seems like they did the best they could and slapped Merc on the wrist. What they didn’t think about, clearly, is the young driver getting the short end of the stick.
Ferrari and Red Bull, who raised the Testgate protest to start off with, are bound to be pretty darn unhappy about things. While Red Bull is refraining from getting into commenting about their thoughts on the verdict, Ferrari have already voiced their discontent with the verdict through their anonymous ‘Horse Whisperer’ column saying that it is “somewhat perplexing to say the least to see that the guilty party can get away virtually scot free for having derived an unfair sporting advantage.”The column went on to say, “Don’t tell me that testing for three days on your own at the Catalunya circuit is the same as doing so with nine other teams at Silverstone with a host of young hopefuls at the wheel, in an area where the weather can still be changeable even in the height of summer.”
“And what if this whole incident had taken place after the young driver test, what would have been the penalty then? Would they have been forbidden from holding an end of year dinner?”
Clearly the Maranello team are not happy with the outcome.
On the flip side, this is not the first time that a team has gotten off with a slap on the wrist following breaches in regulations. And it most certainly won’t be the last. Adrian Newey is the master at that game. Mercedes saw a loophole, and took it. Well played, I suppose. It seems that this is the way of Formula One. This time Testgate, next time Turbogate?
What are your thoughts on the Testgate verdict? Do you think it’s fair? Let us know in the comments section below.
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F1: Tyregate Verdict: Mercedes get a Reprimand
Below is the statement released by the FIA regarding the tyre test involving Pirelli and Mercedes AMG PertronasDisciplinary procedure against Mercedes and Pirelli (2013 FIA Formula One World Championship)Reminder of the factsOn 5 June 2013, further to protests lodged during the 2013 Monaco GP by Red Bull Racing and Ferrari Scuderia Team against cars n°9 and 10 (Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team) for having conducted with Pirelli a three day tyre testing using a 2013 car on 15, 16 and 17 May in Barcelona, the President of the FIA, acting as the FIA Prosecuting Body, sent to the President of the International Tribunal a notification of charges against Pirelli and a notification of charges against Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.
On 5 June 2013, Pirelli and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team have been convened by the President of the International Tribunal to appear before a judging panel of the International Tribunal.
Decision of the International Tribunal
The Tribunal, after having heard the parties and examined their submissions, decided that:
- Mercedes be reprimanded;
- Mercedes be suspended from participating in the forthcoming “three day young driver training test”;
- Pirelli be reprimanded.
and rejected all other and further conclusions.
The International Tribunal was presided over by Mr Edwin GLASGOW QC (Great Britain), and included Mr Christy HARRIS (United States), Mr Patrick RAEDERSDORF (Switzerland) and Mr Anthony SCOTT ANDREWS (Great Britain).
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Lotus sells 35 percent stake to Infinity Racing
Lotus announced on Tuesday that they have sold a 35 percent stake in the team, to the investment group Infinity Racing Partners Limited.
Until now, Genii Capital, the investment firm co-founded by Lotus F1’s chairman Gerard Lopez, has owned 100 percent of the Enstone based team. Genii Capital will still retain a controlling 65 percent stake of the team and Lopez will continue to fill the role of Chairman. Genii CEO Eric Lux will also retain his seat on the Board of Directors.
Infinity Racing is an investment consortium made up of private investors including “an American hedge fund manager, an Abu Dhabi-based multinational business group and royal family interests of a major oil producing nation”.
Lopez feels that sponsorship options for the team will be increased with the inclusion of the new part owners. “Infinity Racing’s principals have exceptional expertise and a proven strong track record in developing and delivering high quality technologies,” he said. “This partnership will enable us to increase Lotus F1 Team’s competitive advantage related to KERS technology as it becomes more central to Formula One’s push for environmentally sound racing, while also making Lotus F1 Team more marketable as a brand, opening up additional major sponsorship opportunities.”
Genii CEO Eric Lux has said that he believes the move is the start of an exciting journey for the team. “Genii Capital is delighted to announce this partnership between Infinity Racing and Lotus F1 Team as we continue to grow and compete for podium places,” he said. “Since Genii Capital took over control in December 2009, we have been focused on growing the value of the organisation and developing the infrastructure at its Enstone headquarters.”“As Lotus F1 Team results have continued to improve every year, we have been waiting for the right investor who will help make the jump to the top spot in the Constructors’ Championship. In Infinity Racing, we have found a partner with the right connections in addition to technological expertise and a global reach in major markets with key sponsors to achieve this goal. We look forward to working with Infinity Racing as we continue on this exciting journey.”
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Speculation around Red Bull cheating sends F1 fans into a flurry
F1 Fans are once again up in arms after speculation has surfaced that the Red Bull team are using traction control which is banned in Formula One.It seems that an Italian publication, Autosprint started the rumours and speculation around Red Bull cheating, stating that the team may be using traction control to gain a significant advantage over rival teams.
This follows the publication finding a picture of Mark Webber, shortly after his collision with Giedo van der Garde. They state that one can see evidence of a traction control system on the track, after Webber accelerated from the hairpin, toward Turn 11.
“You immediately notice the traces on the track,” Autosprint reported. “Those are not continuous (usually darker at the beginning and then gradually faded) of a ‘screech.’”
They go on to say that, ““It is the typical behaviour of a road car that goes ‘jerky’ with the traction control switched on.”
This is all entirely speculative and there has been no protest from any teams regarding the matter. We are pretty sure that if there was any truth in the rumour, it would not take rival teams very long to protest and request an investigation if they had even the slightest sniff of Red Bull cheating. Surely the FIA would have noticed something as obvious as traction control by now as cars also undergo thorough scrutineering.
According to F1 Madness’ technical expert, “all teams use the same electronic ECU which is supplied by the FIA as per Article 8.2.1 of the Formula One rules and regulation, so it is unlikely that it’s traction control”.
Unfortunately (or fortunately), as is often the case with Formula One and all the politics that go with it, it would seem that this was nothing more than sensationalist reporting. Of course the “news” has sent fans into an absolute flurry with Twitter being abuzz with further speculation around the validity of the claims.
We will keep you updated if any news develops.
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Beloved F1 commentator, Murray Walker, diagnosed with cancer
Everyone’s favourite F1 commentator and the voice of Formula One for more than 30 years, Murray Walker, revealed last night that he has been diagnosed with a form of lymphatic system cancer.
The cancer was diagnosed during routine blood testing while he was undergoing treatment for a fall last month which broke his pelvis.
But being Murray Walker, the 89 year old remains up beat and told BBC Sport that he was hopeful as the cancer has been caught very early.
“They’ve caught it incredibly early. It’s treatable, the doctors say my condition is mild and I’m very hopeful,” Walker said.
Walker, whose voice and energetic commentary has become synonymous with Formula One over the years is apparently more concerned about having to cancel his plans to attend the Silverstone F1 Grand Prix at the end of June. F1 journalist, Maurice Hamilton who broke the news on Twitter last night, also jokingly tweeted, “Despite having to face chemo, Murray is more concerned about having to miss Silverstone and Goodwood. Typical!”
Murray Walker became involved in GP racing in 1949 and worked as a Formula One commentator and journalist from 1978 until his retirement following the US Grand Prix in 2001. Numerous websites featuring Murray’s ‘Walkerisms’ can be found across the Internet and he has become a much loved and adored Formula One stalwart.
Our thoughts are with Murray as he faces chemotherapy for the next few weeks and we wish him well on his road to recovery.
What are your favourite memories of Murray Walker and his F1 commentary? Leave them in the comments section below.
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F1 2013 News – Pirelli: No new tyres for Silverstone
Italian tyre manufacturer and Formula 1 supplier Pirelli have announced that it will not run new rear tyres at the British grand prix.
A change isn’t going to come after all. Pirelli had been looking for a solution for delamination suffered by drivers this season and opted for a tyre test, this one above board, during the free practice sessions in Canada. The weather conditions in Montreal limited the running that could be done on the experimental tyre and the decision was taken to postpone any modification to the current tyres.
“We are not going to race with the new tyre as we did not get much of a chance to test it here [in Canada],” said Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery. “We have some internal specification changes – process changes – that we think will go the full way to curing the delamination issue that we have seen. That is good from many points of view, as it means teams will be working with the same tyre they started the year with.But it is probably not good for some teams that are struggling with the front tyre.”
To combat the delamination Pirelli will introduce a revised bonding procedure to the current tyres in the hopes that the tread remains affixed.
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F1 2013: Canadian GP Review – Sublime Seb monsters Montreal
The Canadian Grand Prix weekend is famous for its unpredictability. Even though it didn’t stand up to its usual erratic nature there were still some surprises in the offing.
The two biggest surprises came in the form of no driver hitting the famous Wall of Champions – at any stage of the weekend and the none appearance of the safety car at a grand prix where it has been a near certainty in the past.
The rain that had dominated the first two days of running was nowhere to be seen as race day brought with it blue skies and little chance of rain. Sebastian Vettel effortlessly led the pack into turn one as Bottas in the Williams was quickly mugged of his third place starting position.
The pace that Vettel had threatened throughout the practice sessions was finally unleashed as he pulled away from Hamilton to the tune of a second per lap. With the benefit of hindsight the race for victory was over the second Vettel stuck his Red Bull on pole. So was the German’s dominance that he came within several seconds of lapping fifth-placed Nico Rosberg. The pace shown by Red Bull, particularly Vettel, is not something we’ve seen so far in 2013. A closer look at the run he put together in Canada reveals that he pushed from lights to flag; sometimes lapping more than second faster than second-placed Hamilton. This lends itself to deduce that the pace may have always been available in the car but limited by the obligation to protect the Pirelli tyres. Red Bull’s complaints about the tyres seem to have a lot more basis now, don’t they?Vettel may have been long gone but Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso entertained the masses with a late race scrap for second position. Hamilton had the younger tyres of the two but it was no match for the relentless Fernando Alonso as the he scythed past his former teammate to take second place. Hamilton left Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg well behind but still described his third place finish as ‘disappointing.’
Mark Webber looked an early threat to finish on the podium but for a clash with back marker Giedo van der Garde. The Caterham driver appeared to turn in Webber at the hairpin causing the Red Bull driver to lose part of his front-wing. Webber finished a distant fourth well ahead Nico Rosberg. Red Bull have announced Sebastian Vettel’s contract extension to the end of 2015 while Mark Webber’s future with the Milton Keynes based team remains a mystery. The Silverstone grand prix has traditionally been the weekend that the Australian has made any announcements regarding his career.
Jean-Eric Vergne went about his business fairly anonymously and scored an excellent sixth place finish for Toro Rosso. Results like this certainly won’t hurt the rumours that suggest Jev could be in the running for the second Red Bull seat. Scotsman Paul di Resta started his race down the field but a brilliant stint of 56 laps on the medium compound tyres transformed his 17th starting position into seventh on race day.
Felipe Massa overcame a qualifying crash to finish in eighth ahead Kimi Raikkonen’s Lotus in ninth. Raikkonen’s chances had looked good on a one-stop strategy but a problem with the rear-jack in his pitstop and a brake issue put the podium well beyond reach. Kimi Raikkonen is now 44 points adrift of Sebastian Vettel in the championship standings – a hefty deficit but the high-speed circuits will play to Lotus’ strength.
Force India’s Adrian Sutil survived a spin and a drive-through penalty for ignoring blue flags to finish in tenth place. Jenson Button described the race as a ‘painful’ experience as neither McLaren driver was able to score points. For the first time in 64 races McLaren failed to score a point – surely it is now time to admit that somewhere something went seriosuly wrong. Is it a coincidence that several of McLaren’s key people have jumped ship?
Sebastian Vettel’s dominant victory wasn’t without a few nervy moments as he kissed the wall on the exit of turn four and took a trip across the grass of turn two. But such was his dominance that not even a few mistakes could put the champ under any kind of pressure. Vettel now holds a very healthy lead in the championship on 132 points to Alonso’s 96 and Raikkonen’s 88. But there has always been something special about Fernando Alonso and his driving in the last year and a half has been spectacular. Combined with his relentless tenacity this championship battile with almost certainly feature the Ferrari driver.It was with great sadness that the FIA announced the death of a Canadian grand prix marshal on Sunday night. The marshal was helping to retrieve the car of Esteban Guitierrez when he was hit by a mobile crane. Very much considered the unsung heroes, the unidentified man is the third marshal to have been killed since 2000.
