F1 Madness

Tag: Lotus

  • Eric Boullier Quits Lotus, looks set to become McLaren Team Principal

    Eric Boullier Quits Lotus, looks set to become McLaren Team Principal

    Eric Boullier has quit the Lotus F1 Team and looks set to join McLaren.

    In a surprising development Frenchman Boullier has severed ties with the Enstone based team just months after announcing that its future looked steady and promising. Boullier becomes the latest in a long list of exits from the Lotus team. The team has lost several key members over the last several months including Kimi Raikkonen, James Allison, Dirk De Beer and several key behind-the-scenes figures.

    The team principal role at Lotus is now expected to be filled by team owner, Gerard Lopez. “We thank Eric for all his hard work over the past four years and we are confident we can continue to fight as one of the top teams in Formula 1 over the seasons ahead,” Lopez told AUTOSPORT.

    Next on the Boullier agenda seems to be a move to McLaren. The Frenchman is touted to take over the team principal role from Martin Whitmarsh amidst the return of Ron Dennis’ return as group CEO. McLaren are expected to launch their 2014 challenger in a matter of hours.

     

  • Complete Test Schedule

    Complete Test Schedule

    First Test Session*:

    28 Jan Circuito Permanente de Jerez

    29 Jan Circuito Permanente de Jerez

    30 Jan Circuito Permanente de Jerez

    31 Jan Circuito Permanente de Jerez

    Second Test Session:

    19 Feb Bahrain International Circuit

    20 Feb Bahrain International Circuit

    21 Feb Bahrain International Circuit

    22 Feb Bahrain International Circuit

    Third Test Session:

    27 Feb Bahrain International Circuit

    28 Feb Bahrain International Circuit

    Fourth Test Session:

    1 Mar Bahrain International Circuit

    2 Mar Bahrain International Circuit

    *The Lotus F1 Team has announced that it will not attend the first test session.

  • Ferrari “back at the cutting edge” of F1 says James Allison

    Ferrari “back at the cutting edge” of F1 says James Allison

    Ferrari technical director James Allison says that the team’s recent investment in its wind tunnel and aerodynamic team have returned the team to the “cutting edge” of Formula One.

    “Aerodynamics remains the lifeblood of a modern Formula 1 car,” he told the Ferrari website. “It’s impossible to be competitive without having the right tools and adequate resources: now we can say we have moved on from being maybe the fourth or fifth team in terms of the tools we have, to once again being at the cutting edge and everything is in place to open up a new Ferrari era.”

    Next season we will see massive changes in engine and other technical regulations with turbo V6s replacing the V8s and greater emphasis on energy recovery. Allison told the Ferrari website that he believed this would shift the focus away from aerodynamics a little.

    “It’s true that the influence of the power unit on overall performance of the car will be much greater than in the recent past. From when, in 2007, the freeze on engine development took hold and performance levels converged, it’s clear that its influence on the pecking order got ever smaller, while aerodynamics grew in importance,” he said. “In the years leading up to that point, that wasn’t the case: I can well remember how important the engine was in terms of Ferrari’s successes in the first half of the Noughties. Now we will witness a re-balancing, although aerodynamics will still be a key factor.”

    Allison joined Ferrari in September having left Lotus earlier this year but insists he has not been focusing on next year’s car. Instead he has been working on instead ensuring that the team was equipped with the right tools, and the best people for the year ahead.

    “I definitely haven’t spent time going into the details of the design of the new car, as it wouldn’t make any sense at this stage,” he said. “Rather, I concentrated on trying to direct adequate resources and on putting the best people in the right places to optimise attention to detail.”

    “Actually, when you tackle a regulation change like this one, it’s not something you only start thinking about six months beforehand. When I arrived in Maranello, work on the project had been on going for two years. I tried to immerse myself in its philosophy and adapt to the team as quickly as possible,” he continued. “Having said that, what you could call my active role in the design of the car involves working identifying the areas on which maybe we should push harder and concentrate more effort.”

    Photo credit: Ferrari
  • Lotus F1 Team has a laugh with 18 new rules for 2014

    Lotus F1 Team has a laugh with 18 new rules for 2014

    The Lotus F1 Team is taking the FIA’s announcement detailing new regulations for next season in their stride.

    A good few teams and drivers have voiced their disapproval of the changes, specifically the controversial double points rule which Sebastian Vettel slammed as being “absurd”.

    The Lotus team however, posted a link on their website, Twitter account and Facebook pages detailing 18 new rules for the 2014 season which are bound to give F1 fans a good laugh.

    The rules range from “anyone with a dog named Roscoe” starting at the back of the grid to championship points deciders being determined by Rock, Paper, Scissors or Cage Fight.

    We particularly love the rule that any team with more than four members who’ve been Technical Directors, will have to design their cars using nothing but LEGO.

    Below is the full set of 18 rules, as published by the Lotus F1 Team.

    Lotus rule changes

     

     

     

  • FIA accepting applications for a 12th F1 team

    FIA accepting applications for a 12th F1 team

    The FIA has called for potential new teams to express their interest in participating in Formula 1 “at a competitive level” in 2015 or 2016.

    The sport’s governing body has opened up a selection process for a new team to join the grid, potentially as early as the start of the 2015 F1 season.Interested applicants have until Friday 3 January 2014 to register a formal expression of interest.

    Following the demise of HRT at the end of the 2012 season, we saw only 11 teams take part in this year’s championship.

    Super Aguri, 2007We’ve not seen a new team in the sport since the start of 2010, when Lotus Racing (Caterham), Virgin (Marussia) and Hispania (HRT) joined the F1 grid. Aside from them, only two other teams – Toyota and Super Aguri – have joined the sport since 2002.

    A statement on the FIA’s official website read:

    “The FIA has decided to open a new selection process to identify a candidate team to participate at a competitive level in the FIA Formula One World Championship from the start of the 2015 or the 2016 season up to 2020 inclusive. The overall long-term interests of the Championship will determine which candidates are selected.”

    The FIA also published the requirements for applying as well as the applicable application selection criteria.

    Applicants will be judged on:

    (a) the technical ability and resources of the team;
    (b) the ability of the team to raise and maintain sufficient funding to allow participation in the Championship at a competitive level;
    (c) the team’s experience and human resources;
    (d) the FIA’s assessment of the value that the candidate may bring to the Champions
    Information on the candidate’s relevant experience, including technical and racing experience as well as facilities, equipment and engineering resources are also be required. Full Curriculum Vitae of directors and shareholders also need to be submitted and there is a total application fee of $130,000.

    While the FIA plans to announce any new team on 28th February 2014, they have stated that in the event that “no candidate is deemed suitable by the FIA and the commercial rights holder, no additional team will be selected”.
    Photo Credit: By Alan from Doncaster, UK (P1060288) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

  • F1 Personnel Wars: Williams Add Aero Staff

    F1 Personnel Wars: Williams Add Aero Staff

    The Williams Formula 1 team has announced the signing of two new employees from Red Bull Racing and the Lotus F1 team.

    Shaun Whitehead joins Williams from Red Bull as head of aerodynamic process while Dave Wheater joins the team from Lotus to become the head of aerodynamic performance.

    “These two appointments show our commitment to both improving the process of aerodynamic development while focusing on the application of that development to true on-track performance,” added the team’s chief technical officer Pat Symonds.

    “Dave and Shaun bring a wealth of experience to our team and I welcome them both to Grove and fully expect them to make significant contributions to the renewed competitiveness that we are all working so hard to achieve.

    “With Dave and Shaun on board, and under Jason’s stewardship, we will be well positioned to make gains in this important area and support the continuing task of developing the FW36 in what promises to be an exciting year for the sport in 2014.”

  • Ecclestone says Raikkonen was the star driver of 2013

    Ecclestone says Raikkonen was the star driver of 2013

    F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has come out singing the praises of Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen in a foreword to his Official 2013 F1 Season Review.

    Raikkonen took victory in the opening race this year in Australia, took eight podium finishes and battled his way to finish fifth in the World Drivers’ Championship with 183 points on the board, despite missing the final two races of the season in order to have back surgery.

    “This year I suppose I have to call Kimi the star driver, with the equipment he had,” he said of Raikkonen. “I think he was motivated on hope that he was going to get paid.”

    Raikkonen with his no-nonsense, “Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing” attitude is a favourite amongst F1 fans but as Ecclestone says, he’s a good racer too and a great character to have in the sport, “He’s a good guy to have in a team, good for us, good for the team. He’s super, he’s a racer.”

    After a tumultuous time at Lotus, including not being paid a salary for racing for the team, Raikkonen is heading for Ferrari next season where he will race alongside Fernando Alonso.
  • Martin Brundle expecting “total calamity” for F1 in 2014

    Martin Brundle expecting “total calamity” for F1 in 2014

    Formula One driver turned commentator Martin Brundle has warned that F1 will experience “total calamity” in the early part of the 2014 season.

    F1 will adopt new 1.6-litre turbo-charged engines next year, while teams will also need to make greater use of energy recovery systems.

    “I’m expecting total calamity in the early stages of 2014 and it remains to be seen if that’s entertaining or confusing, but I have no doubt that these brilliant engineers and designers will master the issues sooner than later” Brundle wrote in his Sky Sports F1 column.
    He did however agree with Jenson Button that certain revisions in the new 2014 regulations and technical changes like those to aerodynamics could dent Red Bull’s supremacy and make for a more level playing field.
    Button recently said that he’s expecting the 2014 cars to be more difficult to drive due to increased torque and less downforce, something he doesn’t seem to excited about but he expressed his views that we should be looking at a more level playing field next season.
    “I agree with Jenson Button, big changes can only hurt Red Bull given they have such an advantage, but no doubt the usual suspects with the biggest resource will get there first. I’m hoping that we won’t have a three-tier Ferrari – Renault – Mercedes championship in whichever order for both power and efficiency, but it’s possible,” Brundle wrote.
    Brundle added that teams have a lot of work ahead of them saying, “I’ve asked my trusted sources in the paddock and they just roll their eyes and throw their arms up in the air. There’s a huge amount of work to do in a very short space of time.”
    The Briton seemed most concerned about a crisis in the sport around the current financial state some teams are finding themselves in. He added that, “The midfield driver market should settle down in the next week or so,” just prior to the confirmations that Pastor Maldonado will move to Lotus in 2014 and Nico Hulkenberg will head to Force India.

    Brundle added, “I’ve never seen anything like it frankly, and it doesn’t bode well when the only team – Lotus – to consistently take the fight to Red Bull can’t afford to chose its own driver line-up and take the best available.”“My alarm bells are going off for the general health of F1 and it needs urgent action, if not then a crisis, before it’s back on track,” Brundle said in closing.

    Photo Credit: By greenmashup (Martin Brundle) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
  • Hulkenberg Returns to Force India for 2014

    Hulkenberg Returns to Force India for 2014

    Nico Hulkenberg has been confirmed at Force India for the 2014 season on a multi year deal.

    Hulkenberg raced with the Silverstone based team in the 2011 and 2012 season and now returns to Force India after a season at Sauber. The announcement comes just a few days after Lotus announced that Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado will drive for them in 2014. Hulkenberg was the front runner for the Lotus team, but after the Quantum deal that was on the verge of being completed didn’t materialize, Lotus had to go with Maldonado and the money that he brings in.

    “I am happy to come back to Sahara Force India. The team is aiming high for next year and I believe that the experience I have gained over the years will help us achieve those goals,” said Hulkenberg.

    “I genuinely believe we can have a competitive package in 2014. I’ve heard a lot of positive things about the Mercedes engine as well, so I think there is a lot to be excited about for next year.”

    “I know this team and I can see their determination; it’s a great bunch of people and we all share the same hunger for success.”

    Force India Team Principal, Vijay Mallya expressed his delight at having Hulkenberg back at Force India.

    “Having Nico in our line-up is a real statement of intent and a huge boost for everyone associated with the team. We have high hopes and expectations for 2014 and by signing Nico we have put ourselves in the best position to achieve those objectives and enjoy what could be our most competitive season yet,” said Mallya

    Force India are still to confirm who their second driver will be. Many people are saying that Sergio Perez is a strong contender for that seat. Kudos to Vijay Mallya for taking on a driver who is clearly a good driver and not choosing a driver based on how much money he is able to bring to a team.

     

  • Updated F1 2014 driver line-up

    Updated F1 2014 driver line-up

    Following Lotus’ announcement that Pastor Maldonado will race alongside Romain Grosjean and the news that Nico Hulkenberg will drive for Force India next season, 16 drivers have now been announced for the 2014 season, with six more seats up for grabs.

    In terms of the 2014 driver line-up only one team – Mercedes – have confirmed that they will be retaining both of their drivers. Red Bull, Ferrari, Lotus, McLaren, Williams and Toro Rosso have all replaced one of their drivers.

    We have two teams – Sauber and Caterham – who still need to announce any drivers, and the sixth and final ‘available’ seat is at Marussia, alongside Jules Bianchi.

    We have two rookies included in the 2014 driver line-up so far – Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen who will replace Sergio Perez at McLaren and Russia’s Daniil Kvyat who’ll take over Daniel Ricciardo’s seat at Toro Rosso.

    The current 2014 driver line-up stands as follows:

    brazil-finaldriversphotoRed Bull Racing
    Sebastian Vettel
    Daniel Ricciardo

    Mercedes
    Lewis Hamilton
    Nico Rosberg

    Ferrari
    Fernando Alonso
    Kimi Raikkonen

    Lotus
    Romain Grosjean
    Pastor Maldonado

    McLaren
    Jenson Button
    Kevin Magnussen

    Force India
    Nico Hulkenberg
    TBC

    Sauber
    TBC
    TBC

    Toro Rosso
    Jean-Eric Vergne
    Daniil Kvyat

    Williams
    Felipe Massa
    Valtteri Bottas

    Marussia
    Jules Bianchi
    TBC

    Caterham
    TBC
    TBC