F1 Madness

Tag: le mans

  • F1 2015: Hulkenberg – “I’ll be in a good car next year”

    F1 2015: Hulkenberg – “I’ll be in a good car next year”

    German Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg says that he has “good options” for 2016.

    The 24 Hour Le Mans winner is F1’s perennially overlooked but highly rated driver but despite this believes that he has a few options to consider for 2016. “There are a few good options out there, and I’m pretty confident I can put something good together and that I’ll be here next year in a good car,” says Hulkenberg.

    Hulkenberg’s F1 career started with Williams in 2010 before moving to Force India for the 2011 and ’12 seasons. He spent the 2013 season as a Sauber driver before returning to Force India at the beginning of 2014. Hulkenberg’s year at Williams wasn’t a stellar one by any means but a return to the Williams team isn’t out the question. The British team, who holds the option to extend Valtteri Bottas’ contract, has not yet announced its driver line-up for 2016.

    The 28-year-old was linked with a possible to Ferrari but never expected to make the move to the Italian team.

  • F1 2015: Austrian Grand Prix Preview – Power King At Red Bull Ring

    F1 2015: Austrian Grand Prix Preview – Power King At Red Bull Ring

    Power is defined as the capacity to move with great speed or force. As the Austrian Grand Prix’s four and a half kilometres circuit has only nine corners amongst its three long straights is it the classic power circuit.

    Austria’s interest in Formula 1 was indifferent at best until the rise of Jochen Rindt in the mid 1960s. Rindt arrived at the first ever race around the Osterreichring in 1970 but lost out to Jacky Ickx in the Ferrari. He would never return to his home grand prix as he fatally crashed at the following Italian Grand Prix. Rindt remains the only posthumous world champion in the sport.

    Austria’s love affair with Formula 1 would be renewed with the revelation of Niki Lauda who would go on to win three Formula 1 world championships. Decades later it would be renamed the A1 Ring and be re-introduced to the Formula 1 calendar in 1997 and host a yearly grand prix until 2003. The controversial 2002 race in which Rubens Barrichello handed victory to teammate Michael Schumacher is inscribed in its and in Formula 1’s infamous history of the Austrian Grand Prix.

    Red Bull Ring - Austrian Grand PrixIn 2011 the circuit was rebranded and brought back to Formula 1 in 2014 as the Red Bull Ring. It was here, twelve months ago, that the Williams duo of Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas stunned the paddock by locking out the front row of the grid. In the end victory went to Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton with Valtteri Bottas in third.

    In Canada Williams secured their first podium with Bottas but they can hardly be considered as having turned a corner. If it was not for fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen’s spin in the Canadian Grand Prix, the podium would have been highly doubtful. It’s been a tricky season for the Grove based team which hasn’t reached the heights of 2014. With all things being equal Massa and Bottas will likely not be at the sharp-end on Sunday but they could still make life very difficult for Ferrari and perhaps even Mercedes in Saturday qualifying.

    Besides those with the potential for victory the mid-field battle is worth keeping an eye on as it invariably delivers the most exciting battles of a race. Thanks to their Mercedes power unit Lotus is looking forward to a strong weekend and a decent haul of points. “Looking at the circuit and talking to our drivers and engineers it’s a place that could suit us so we’re feeling quite positive heading there, especially after the E23 showed pretty well in Canada,” said Deputy team Principal Federico Gastaldi.

    Seventy percent of the lap around the Red Bull Ring is spent at full throttle bringing the power unit well and truly to the centre of the picture this weekend. Ferrari introduced an upgraded engine during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend but was unable let loose it’s potential. It may not be as simple this weekend either as cooler temperatures in the Styrian Mountains will complicate Ferrari’s potential. When Ferrari has shown a pace advantage this season it has come from being able to switch on and look after the Pirelli tyres in warmer conditions.

    The Formula 1 headlines over last little while have been quite spectacular. As Williams’ co-founder Patrick Head received a knighthood from the Queen and Nico Hulkenberg won the Le Mans 24 hours in a LMP1 Porsche it’s now over to Formula 1 to deliver an Austrain Grand Prix worthy of its celebrated history.

  • Hulkenberg to Compete in Le Mans 24 Hours

    Hulkenberg to Compete in Le Mans 24 Hours

    Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg announced today that he will driver for Porsche during the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

    Hulkenberg made the announcement on Twitter to his followers. In his tweet he also thanked Managing Director and Team Principal Vijay Mallya for allowing him to compete at Le Mans.

    Hulkenberg becomes the first driver since 2009 when Sebastian Bourdais, who raced for Toro Rosso, also competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours with Peugeot.

    He wont just climb into the Porsche WEC car and start racing. He has a program mapped out for him to follow which will involve him learning how to deal with the traffic of the the slower GT cars and most importantly he will have to get used to the conditions for driving at night.

    “Porsche and Le Mans – this combination probably attracts every race driver,” said Hulkenberg.

    “I’ve been a Porsche fan for a long time and have been watching their return to the LMP1 class closely.

    “I am very pleased the 2015 Formula 1 calendar allows for it and I’m grateful to my Force India Formula 1 team’s generosity to let me go for it.

    “Now it’s up to me to work hard to satisfy both commitments.”

    The 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place on 13th-14th June 2015, right between the Canadian Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix.

    “Having caught the interest of another world class driver like Nico is validation for the job the entire Porsche LMP1 crew had done in our first WEC season,” said Porsche team principal Andreas Seidl.

    “Having caught the interest of another world class driver like Nico is validation for the job the entire Porsche LMP1 crew had done in our first WEC season,” he added.

    “Now we will prepare Nico for his new challenges such as dealing with the traffic of the slower GT cars and racing into the Le Mans night.

    We’re looking forward to working with Nico and we want to thank the Sahara Force India F1 team and team principal Vijay Mallya for loaning him to us.”

     

    Photo Credit: Sahara Force India Formula 1 Team

  • Mark Webber to leave F1 at the end of the season

    Mark Webber to leave F1 at the end of the season

    Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber has announced that he will leave Formula one at the end of the 2013 season.

    The 36-year-old Australian driver will be joining Porsche’s new sportscar program and racing Webber will be part of Porsche’s LMP1 program at Le Mans next year. Webber says he had options to stay in F1 but feels it is time for him to move on.

    During his twelve years in Formula One, Webber has won nine grands prix, achieved 36 podiums, 11 pole positions and 15 fastest laps. He has also twice finished third in the World Championship.

    Webber says it is an honour to race for Porsche, “Porsche has written racing history as a manufacturer and stands for outstanding performance and technology at the highest level. I’m very much looking forward to this new challenge after my time in Formula One. I can hardly wait to pilot one of the fastest sports cars in the world.”

    Mark WebberThe tension between Webber and current Red Bull Racing team mate Sebastian Vettel is sure to have aided him in making his decision to move on. It has often reached boiling point and Webber has felt on a number of occasions that Vettel is protected and championed by Dr Helmut Marko. Most recently, Vettel ignored team orders not to overtake Webber at the Malaysian Grand Prix and consequently stole the race win from the Australian driver. He was furious and most will not be surprised that he no longer wants to stick around to partner Vettel.

    Webber however says that he did consider staying with Red Bull but the big change regulation changes for next year, he felt it would be better to move on to new challenges in a new racing category where he believes his long term racing future lies.

    He will now lead Porsche’s attempt to revive its glory at Le Mans where he will be part of Porsche’s LMP1 program next year. Porsche last won Le Mans LMP1 in 1998 but has 16 wins under the belt and are desperate to win again. Webber himself has raced twice at Le Mans before and previously said he would never return due to the danger involved but it seems that Porsche has been able to lure the Australian back.

    We wish Mark the best of luck and we’ll be keeping an eye on him!