F1 Madness

Tag: daniel juncadella

  • Brazilian GP: Rosberg Tops the Time Sheets in FP2

    Brazilian GP: Rosberg Tops the Time Sheets in FP2

    Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg finished on top of the time sheets in the second practice session for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

    Rosberg finished the session 0.213s ahead of his team mate Lewis Hamilton with a 1:12.123. Hamilton ended his session with a 1:12.336. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen showed some encouraging pace to round out the top three with a 1:12.696, 0.573s slower than Rosberg’s P1 time.

    Force India’s Sergio Perez could not run in the session due to the repairs that were being carried out on his car after Daniel Juncadell’s crash in FP1. Although the damage wasn’t severe, the repair work to be carried out on his car was complicated, which resulted in the Mexican missing the session.

    Jean-Eric Vergne’s session was cut short after his Toro Rosso suffered from vibrations at the front.

    Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso ended his session prematurely after flames were seen escaping from his exhaust. He came to a stop in a plume of white smoke. He was quickly out of the car and did a little bit of fire fighting to put out the blaze on his car. After the session Ferrari said that it was an old engine with high mileage, so there was no cause for concern and he would not incur a penalty as it was not his race engine.

    Just as the session got underway after it was red flagged to recover Alonso’s car, Sauber’s Esteban Gutierrez came to a stop in almost the same place as Alonso with a reported MGU-K problem. The session was red flagged and got underway with just 9 minutes on the clock.

    The big talking point this session was about the tyre choices. Nico Rosberg had an unusually high amount of blistering on his tyres. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo also reported heavy blistering on his rear tyres. It seems as though the tyres will be a big issue this weekend. If it does rain it will be a very different story for everyone.

    Brazil 2014_FP2

  • Everything you need to know about the Young Driver’s Test

    Everything you need to know about the Young Driver’s Test

    Formula 1’s annual Young Driver’s Test starts tomorrow on the Silverstone race track.

    However, this year’s three day test session has a bit of a twist to it. As a result of the tyre troubles at Silverstone grand prix the test has been transformed into an emergency tyre test for the Italian manufacturer to regain its footing in the sport.

    Teams won’t have free reign to do as the please throughout the three days though. Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, has clearly stipulated what can and cannot be done.

    1. The FIA will send its own observer to the test session to ensure that no current race driver complete any development work for their respective teams.
    2. The current race drivers may complete one full day of work on the emergency tyre testing program.
    3. The ‘young driver’ will be permitted to carry out development work on their team cars.

    Mercedes will sit out the three day test session as the Brackley based team serves a ban imposed on them for conducting a tyre test after the Spanish grand prix.  Lewis Hamilton has voiced his concern on the dangers of Mercedes not being allowed to test the new tyres before their introduction at the Hungarian grand prix.

    “I don’t know if people fully appreciate how big a negative it is for us not to do the test.We are going to go to Hungary when other people have gone and tested (the new tyres with) different ride-heights, different pressures, got their car ready for a long run so they arrive ready.We don’t have any of that information so when we get there we’re going to go into it blind.We shouldn’t be in this position in sport, but that’s the way it is,” said Hamilton.

    But it seems the Brit’s fears will be assuaged as Pirelli motorsport director, Paul Hemberey, announced that Mercedes will recieve data on findings about the new tyres.

    The Young Driver’s Test was institued with the aim of showcasing up-and-coming talents that could, potentially, be the future of Formula 1.Several current drivers will be present at the test but in amongst will be some eager drivers keen to make their mark.

    Team

    Wednesday 17th

    Thursday 18th

    Friday 19th

    Red Bull

    Antonio Felix da Costa

    Daniel Ricciardo

    Antonio Felix da Costa

    Daniel Ricciardo

    Carlos Sainz Jnr

    Sebastian Vettel

    Ferrari

    Davide Rigon

    Davide Rigon

    Felipe Massa

    Davide Rigon

    McLaren

    Kevin Magnussen

    Oliver Turvey

    Gary Paffett

    Lotus

    Nicolas Prost

    Davide Valsecchi

    Nicolas Prost

    Mercedes

    Banned

    Sauber

    Robin Frijns

    Robin Frijns

    Nico Hulkenberg

    Kimiya Sato

    Force India

    James Calado

    Paul di Resta

    Adrian Sutil

    Williams

    Daniel Juncadella

    Pastor Maldonado

    Susie Wolff

    Toro Rosso

    Johnny Cecotto Jnr

    Carlos Sainz Jnr

    Jean-Eric Vergne

    Daniil Kvyat

    Caterham

    Alexander Rossi

    Will Stevens

    Charles Pic

    Giedo van der Garde

    Marussia

    Tio Ellinas

    Max Chilton

    Rodolfo Gonzalez

    Rodolfo Gonzalez

    Jules Bianchi
  • Susie Wolff, Daniel Juncadella to join Maldonado for Williams at Young Driver Test

    Susie Wolff, Daniel Juncadella to join Maldonado for Williams at Young Driver Test

    Susie Wolff and Daniel Juncadella will join Williams driver Pastor Maldonado at the upcoming Young Driver Test at Silverstone.
    Susie Wolff has completed a number of straight line tests for Williams but this will be her first participation in an official test session. She is hoping to get a better understanding of the car which will help her in her development feedback at the factory simulator testing which she regularly participates in.
    “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me, so now it is up to me to prepare myself the best that I can for the day,” she said. “It’s going to be a big challenge but the most important thing is to do a solid and consistent job and to give good feedback to the team to be able to prove I am at the level to compete on a day such as this. Most of my work is based in the simulator which is why this day is so important for me. It will give me a better understanding of what the car is like on track and how that correlates to the simulator which will also help further develop the work I can do there.”
    Daniel Juncadella is currently racing in DTM and like any young driver is relishing the opportunity to test in a Formula One team.

    “It’s a great chance for me and I hope I can help the team next week,” he said. “It’s an important test for any young driver as there aren’t many opportunities to drive a Formula one car. I had my first taste of Formula One as a prize for winning the 2012 Formula 3 Euro Series title, but it was a 2009 car so I therefore see this as being the real deal, having the chance to drive a current car in a full test. I’ve spent a couple of days at the factory getting to know the team and I felt at home. Looking at the history of the team is also amazing and so to get this chance with Williams, a team so many great drivers have raced for, makes it even more special.”

    Now that current race drivers are also permitted to take part in the Young Driver Test, Pastor Maldonado will also get a day behind the wheel of the Williams taking part in tyre development tests for Pirelli.

    Photo: Williams F1 Team