INDIA in F1

Tag: formula 1

  • Finally, Adrian Sutil gets Sahara Force India drive

    Barcelona, 28 Feb 2013: In an official statement today, Sahara Force India said it was pleased to announce that Adrian Sutil would complete its driver line-up for the 2013 season.
    The 30-year-old German will race alongside Paul Di Resta, recreating the successful partnership that raced together during the 2011 season.
    The 2013 campaign will be Adrian’s fifth racing season in the colours of Sahara Force India and his sixth year of Formula One competition.
    Adrian will test for the team this week in Barcelona, driving on Friday and Saturday. Paul Di Resta will be back in the car on Sunday.
    Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: “The decision over our driver line-up has not been an easy one and we have given it great consideration over the last few months. It was a close call, but ultimately we felt that Adrian’s experience and historic links to the team gave him the edge, and will provide us with the best possible chance of realising our ambitions for the coming season. If he can rediscover the exceptional form he showed in the second half of 2011, I’m confident that we can pick up where we left off at the end of 2012. As for Jules Bianchi, he has impressed us enormously with his speed and work ethic, and I’m hopeful we can continue working with him this year to help him develop into a future Grand Prix driver.”
    Adrian Sutil: “I’m delighted to be back in Formula One, especially with a team I know so well. I’m very happy and I want to thank Sahara Force India for giving me a second chance. Having been away from the sport, I’m even more determined to achieve my goals in Formula One. Things went really well at the Barcelona test last week and it almost feels as though I’ve never been away. Driving the car felt so natural and I was able to get back in the groove quickly and find the limit. Now my focus is on making the most of the final test session this week, working with the team in the simulator and getting myself in the best possible shape for Melbourne.”
    A Sahara Force India photo of Adrian Sutil in the car.

    ends

  • Di Resta does 82 laps for Tyre work and Aero programme

    Circuit de Catalunya, 19 Feb 2013: Sahara Force India began its Barcelona test session on Tuesday  as Paul Di Resta spent the day in the VJM06 and clocked up 82 laps of the Circuit de Catalunya getting a mileage of 382 kilometres and notched up his fastest lap at 1:24.144. He was classified 8th of the 12 drivers that took to testing on the first day at Barcelona as F1 world moved from Jerez testing to Barcelona.
    However, there is no word on the second driver.  Reliable sources rubbished the news of Narain Karthikeyan having any chance of getting into Sahara Force India team.  Sources also said that Karthikeyan has complained to the Editors of the newspaper in Chennai (India) that the report about him, suggesting a move to Sahara Force India, was in bad taste as he was not contacted at all. International Media reports  put Adrian Sutil and Jules Bianchi in contention for the lone seat available for the 2013 season.
    Paul Di Resta: “The first day of running was mainly about tyre work and making some comparisons with Jerez. I was running on the hard and the mediums and we got a good feel for them once again. We also did an aero programme this morning, which is part of the correlation work as we evaluate some of the new parts going on the car. The plan is for more of the same tomorrow.”
    Jakob Andreasen, Chief Race Engineer
    “It has been a solid first day of work in Barcelona with Paul. We’ve put into effect what we learned in Jerez and made some useful comparisons, especially in terms of tyre evaluation. After the aero programme this morning, we did some shorts runs with new aero components and then moved to longer runs later on. The track conditions were not at their best this morning, but from midday onwards things started to improve and the cloud cover kept the track temperatures relatively low. With Melbourne less than a month away the team is gelling nicely and the new personnel and structures we have put in place are working well.”
    Paul di Resta in the VJM06 on Day One of the F1 testing at Barcelona on Tuesday. A Sahara Force India photo

    ends

  • British PM Cameron visits Caterham’s Leafield Centre

    Leafield Technical Centre, UK 19 Feb 2013: David Cameron was given a tour of Caterham Group’s Leafield Technical Centre on Friday 15th February by Caterham Group Co-Chairman Tony Fernandes.

    Leafield Technical Centre has been home to Caterham F1 Team since the team moved its factory base and over 200 staff from Norfolk to the site in Oxfordshire in August 2012. Caterham Cars, the roadcar division of Caterham Group that recently unveiled a unique 50 / 50 partnership with Renault to build a new range of cars, will also move its base to Leafield in due course, creating more jobs and significant revenue for the UK economy. The site is located in Cameron’s constituency.

    David Cameron MP: ““This is the dream investment for any constituency. Caterham F1 is bringing high-end jobs, engineering and manufacturing to West Oxfordshire. Not only will it create jobs but it will be a real boost to our local economy. On a national scale, it is great to see Britain designing and selling more cars. It is businesses like this which are helping to lift our economy out of a very difficult time and making sure that Britain thrives in the global race. I am so excited to welcome this great business to Leafield and I wish them every success.”

    Tony Fernandes, Caterham Group Co-Chairman: “It was an honour to give Mr Cameron a tour of Leafield Technical Centre and to demonstrate the cutting edge technology and innovative thinking that is at the heart of Caterham Group. Representatives from each of the arms of Caterham Group were on hand to demonstrate to Mr Cameron how Caterham Cars, Caterham Technology and Innovation (CTI) and Caterham Composites are setting new standards for innovative thinking and cutting edge technology across a wide range of industries.

    “Caterham Cars and Caterham Technology and Innovation are now working in close partnership with Renault to produce a new range of sportscars that will soon showcase our world class technology to automotive customers worldwide. CTI and Caterham Composites are also in a very exciting phase of their development. Both companies are working across a wide range of industries, including automotive, aircraft, marine, sports and leisure, bringing their specialist knowledge of innovative technological solutions and composite materials to set new standards in their fields. For example, CTI and Caterham Composites are now into the development phase of a revolutionary lightweight aircraft seat. Using their specialist knowledge of composite materials and cutting edge design and manufacturing skills, they will soon demonstrate how the inter-connected businesses within Caterham Group can combine to revolutionise one of the key global industries.

    “The specialist knowledge we have within our group all began when we launched our F1 team in 2009. Since then, in just over three years, we have built a range of world class businesses that complement one another perfectly. Having the opportunity to demonstrate this to Mr Cameron was a very rewarding experience and I am sure he found the visit extremely interesting. We are extremely proud of what Caterham Group has achieved in such a short time, and Leafield Technical Centre is the perfect environment to showcase just how far we believe Caterham Group can go.”

    ends

    Tony Fernandes (left) presents a memento to British Prime Minister David Cameroon after taking him on a tour of Leafield Tech Centre on 15 Feb 2013. A Caterham F1 team photo.

  • Jerez testing Day 2: Grosjean on top; Good run by Paul

    Lotus

    Romain Grosjean ended the second day of testing at Jerez as comfortably the fastest man on track as the team continued its evaluation programme with the E21.

    Under blue skies with occasional cloud coverage, Romain completed 95 laps; many of which dipped into the 1min 18s. He ended the day with the best time set thus far this week – a 1min 18.218secs – with no other car running under 1min 19.000secs.

    Fast Facts:

    • Chassis: E21-01
    • Weather: Sunny, ambient 5-22°C, track 7-28°C
    • Programme: Systems checks, temperature monitoring, data correlation, evaluation of the performance of the car with its initial aerodynamic package, tyre performance assessment.
    • Laps Completed: 95.
    • Classification: P1, 1:18.218.
    • Interruptions: Stopped out on track on lap 96 (fuel).

    What’s Next?

    Kimi Räikkönen will take to the wheel of the E21 for the first time tomorrow, before wrapping up the opening test on Friday.

    Romain Grosjean: “It was good today; the programme went to plan and we showed we have good reliability. For me, the whole test has gone well which bodes well for the year ahead. My feeling in the car is good and it was great to be at the top of the times. Even if it doesn’t mean anything during testing, it’s still good to be at the front. We used the soft, medium and hard compounds and whilst we’re not 100% yet on the differences between each we have a good idea. Kimi will be working on this area for the next two days so we’ll have a better understanding when we head to Barcelona. It’s not easy to understand everything about the car and tyres yet, but I think we’re working quite well and it’s up to us to find the best solutions.”

    Alan Permane, Trackside Operations Director: “I’m very happy with today’s performance. The pace looks good and we haven’t had any issues with reliability meaning we could complete all of our programme without interruption. We focused on learning more about the 2013 Pirelli tyres and ran with the soft, medium and hard compounds with a variety of different set-ups, both mechanical and aerodynamic, to understand how they react. This combined with a good mileage today to give us some very good data to work through ahead of Kimi getting in the car tomorrow.”

    Sahara Force India

    Sahara Force India enjoyed another productive day in Jerez as Paul Di Resta and James Rossiter split driving duties in the VJM06

    Day Two Statistics:

    Chassis: VJM06-02

    Laps: Paul = 95 laps / James = 19 laps

    Mileage: Paul = 421 km / James = 84 km

    Fastest lap: Paul = 1:19.003 / James = 1:21.273

    Classification: Paul = P2  / James = P10

    Paul Di Resta: “I managed to do 95 laps today, which was a good effort, and we got through the programme without any issues. We did some more good aero work this morning and then tried some set-up changes on the car. Testing is a good chance to make bigger changes than you would make during a race weekend and that’s allowed us to really see how they affect the car and has given us valuable data on tyre performance. The handling of the car so far is good and I’m feeling comfortable after two days in the car.”

    James Rossiter: “It felt great to be back in a Formula One car and I was impressed with the performance straight away. It’s only the second day of running, yet the car already feels quite nicely balanced with a lot of potential. Having already done work on the team’s simulator, it’s good to get a feel for the real car and get acclimatised today so that I can really make the most of my running tomorrow morning.”

    Jakob Andreasen, Chief Race Engineer: “Another very productive day of work as we completed a similar technical programme to yesterday with aero passes, balance work and longer runs after lunch. Paul’s feedback and consistency have given us lots of direction for improving the set-up and with 114 laps completed we are gathering lots of data to continue understanding the tyres. We put James in the car late this afternoon to give him time to acclimatise ahead of tomorrow. He’s doing a lot of simulator work for us back at the factory so it’s important that he has a good understanding of the real car to be able to make a valid comparison.”

    Ferrari

    Driver: Felipe Massa; Car: Ferrari F138

    At the wheel of the F138, Felipe Massa continued the work of acquiring data on the car’s behaviour which began yesterday. Also on the day’s programme was an assessment of various configurations of exhaust and some long runs.

    Felipe completed a total of 78 laps, the quickest in a time of 1.19.914.

    Felipe Massa: “Today, we concentrated 100% on the aerodynamic side and on the exhausts.

    In the morning, I didn’t even do a flying lap because we used the time available to do constant 
    speed runs and to analyse various aerodynamic solutions. All the changes to the car took longer than planned, but in the afternoon, I managed to do three long runs which were very important in order to understand which direction we need to follow in the coming days.” Testing continues at this circuit tomorrow, again with the Brazilian driver on track.

    Mercedes AMG Petronas

    Lewis Hamilton’s first day of testing for Mercedes AMG Petronas was brought to an early conclusion today by a technical problem on the F1 W04.

    • Lewis completed 15 laps this morning before suffering a loss of rear brake pressure
    • The front brakes enabled him to slow the car however he could not avoid hitting the barrier
    • The problem was traced to the hydraulic brake line connecting to the right-rear calliper
    • The team did not go out for the remainder of the day as work continued to complete the required repairs

    Nico Rosberg will be back at the wheel of the F1 W04 tomorrow for the third day of the test.

    Lewis Hamilton: We had a good start but then unfortunately we had a failure which brought our day to an early end. These things happen and it’s all part of testing. Of course, it’s better that we get these small issues out of the way sooner rather than later, and the guys are working really hard to overcome them. From the few short laps that I completed this morning, my general feeling was very positive. I got a good understanding of where the base of the car is and, whilst we need to do work in certain areas, it was good to have some laps to get a feel for what those areas are. I’ve told the guys that we just need to keep pushing and I know that we all will be doing that.

    Caterham

    Driver: Giedo van der Garde, car #21
    Chassis: CT03-05
    Total laps: 88
    Best lap: 1.21.311

    Giedo van der Garde, car #21, chassis CT03-05: “Giedo van der Garde, car #21, chassis CT03-05: “Another solid day on track and with 88 laps completed we can be pleased with what we’ve achieved today. For the second day running we didn’t have any real issues and we’re working through the program so the team on track and back in Leafield have a lot of data to work on.

    “In the morning session we ran through a number of aero programs and then switched to comparing setup options on a variety of the tyre compounds. I think we found a good direction in the last run in the afternoon so now the team can keep making progress in the next two days. The other important thing for me is that I’m getting more and more comfortable in the car. The time I spent on track last year with the team was obviously a big help and it’s meant I’ve come into this test knowing my way around the team, and to have completed over 150 laps in my first two days of testing is very positive.”

    Sauber

    Jerez de la Frontera, 6th February 2013 – The Sauber F1 Team had a productive second day of testing. In the morning, when the track’s temperature was still cold, the team concentrated mainly on aerodynamic tests. Later in the morning and in the afternoon – in better track conditions – the engineers and Nico started with some basic set-up work, and then made some runs on heaviear fuel loads. The car ran without any technical problems all day. At the end the team did a fuel system check, and Nico ran out of fuel.

    Driver: Nico Hülkenberg

    Weather: Sunny all day, air 7-20°C, track 7-28 °C

    Chassis/engine: C32-2/Ferrari 056

    Laps today: 99 laps

    Fastest lap : 1 :19.502 min

    Tom McCullough, Head of Track Engineering : “It was a very good day with Nico achieving all our goals. Nico is building up a good working relationship with the engineers, which is important. We continued our  work on understanding the Pirelli tyres. Without doubt the temperatures will be different once we go racing, but we still got to understand them well. The car was, again, very reliable, which gives us a solid basis. 

    Nico Hülkenberg : “For the second day in a row it was pretty successful. We went through a lot of test items and did a comparison of the compounds – soft, medium and hard – which was quite interesting. Otherwise I was able to continue my familiarisation with the car and I did some long runs. Like yesterday, it was a positive day.“

    What comes next: This was the final day of testing for Nico in Jerez. Tomorrow and on Friday, Esteban Gutiérrez will take over.

    Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

    Driver               Sergio Perez

     Location           Circuito de Jerez

     Track length     4.428km

     Laps                 81

     

     Km covered      359

     Best laptime     1m19.572s

     Programme      After yesterday’s encouraging start, today’s focus switched to preparing Sergio for his first run behind the wheel of a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

    The  morning kicked off with a continuation of yesterday’s aero calibration work, carried out across a number of shorter runs. Attention then turned towards acclimatising Sergio to his new office, running through a prescribed programme of mechanical and aerodynamic adjustments with MP4-28 to give him a greater understanding of the inherent feel of the car and the way it reacts to set-up changes.

    The  acclimatisation session continued throughout the afternoon, concluding in a number of longer runs. Sergio racked up 81 laps – a positive start to his Vodafone McLaren Mercedes career.

    What’s next      Jenson returns for his second and final day of Jerez testing, continuing the aero and mechanical work that has been established over the past two days.

    Pos      Driver                           Constructor                              Best time          Laps

    1          Romain Grosjean           Lotus-Renault                                    1m 18.218s                         95

    2          Paul di Resta                    Force India                                         1m 19.003s                       95

    oss Brawn with Hamilton on 2nd day of pre-season F1 testing at Jerez track on Wednesday. A Mercedes photo.

    3          Daniel Ricciardo            Scuderia Toro Rossa                       1m 19.134s                      83

    4          Mark Webber                  Red Bull Racing                                 1m 19.338s                      101

    5          Nico Hulkenberg            Sauber                                                  1m 19.502s                       99

    6          Lewis Hamilton              Mercedes AMG                                   1m 19.519s                      15

    7          Sergio Perez                    Vodafone McLaren Mercedes      1m 19.572s                      81

    8          Felipe Massa                    Ferrari                                                    1m 19.914s                      78

    9          Pastor Maldonado         Williams                                               1m 20.693s                       71

    10         James Rossiter                Force India                                        1m 21.273s                       19

    11         Giedo van der Garde     Caterham                                            1m 21.311s                       88

    12         Luiz Razia                          Marussia                                              1m 23.537s                      31

     

    ends

     

  • Button fastest on Day One of pre-season test at Jerez

     Jerez, 5 Feb 2013: Jenson took the wheel for the first track run of the new MP4-28 and by the end of the first Day of Formula 1 pre-season testing he was the fastest followed by Red Bull’s Mark Webber and early pace-setter Romain Grosjean of Lotus.

    Button’s morning’s running was compromised by a mechanical fuel-pump issue, which cost a couple of hours’ track-time, but the problem was quickly rectified and the team was able to run productively for the remainder of the afternoon.

    Button spent the first part of the day’s programme running a lower-lip rake to complete some aero mapping work. The end of the day saw the team evaluate the effects of a series of mechanical set-up changes, using both the Supersoft and Hard Pirelli tyres.

    Both the aero mapping and the balance changes fell in line with the team’s pre-test expectations. Button set his fastest time of the day on the Hard compound.

    What’s next      Sergio Perez gets his first opportunity to drive a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car tomorrow (Wednesday). The knock-on effects of this morning’s fuel-pump issue mean that he will begin his day by continuing today’s initial aero and balance checks.

    The aim for tomorrow afternoon is to conduct a series of longer runs – possibly incorporating live pitstops into the mix if the team is satisfied with the day’s initial progress.

    Sahara Force India

    Sahara Force India was back in action  as Paul Di Resta completed a busy first day of testing in the VJM06 in Jerez, Spain. Paul completed 89 laps with a best time of 1:20.343 to finish fourth on the timesheets.
    Day One Statistics:
    Chassis: VJM06-02
    Laps: 89 laps
    Mileage: 394 km
    Fastest lap: 1:20.343
    Classification: P4 of 11
    Paul Di Resta: “A positive first day and we managed to cover lots of laps – so that’s the most important thing. I felt very comfortable all day and we managed to get through the programme as we focussed on collecting aero data and understanding how well the car correlates with our simulation tools at the factory.  We also started trying to learn as much about the tyres as possible so that we can carry that into tomorrow and optimise the set-up. The new compounds are quite different with the new construction and I’ve already felt a difference with the balance of the car in the low and high speed parts of the lap.”
    Jakob Andreasen, Chief Race Engineer
    “As first days go, we are pretty satisfied with how things went today. From the install lap onwards we managed to keep to the programme, even with the disruptions for the red flags. In the morning we focused on aero data collection before moving to baseline set-up work just before lunch. For the afternoon Paul completed some longer runs as we started to get an understanding for the 2013 tyres, especially the medium compound, and how they perform. All the while we made good progress with our system checks and we are in good shape ahead of tomorrow.”

    Lotus Renault:

    Lotus F1 Team’s 2013 car, the E21, took to the track for the first time with race driver Romain Grosjean at the wheel under bright blue skies in Jerez, Spain.

    Romain was the fastest man on track for much of the day, ending the afternoon with the third quickest time. 54 laps were completed as the team went through its first day programme of shakedown and assessment.

    Fast Facts:

    • Track: Jerez, Spain, 4.4km
    • Chassis: E21-01
    • Weather: Sunny, ambient 7-26°C, track 6-21°C
    • Programme: Systems checks, temperature monitoring, data correlation, evaluation of the performance of the car with its initial aerodynamic package.
    • Laps Completed: 54
    • Classification: P3, 1:19.796
    • Interruptions: Ballast redeployment and KERS battery change in afternoon.

    What’s Next?

    Romain will complete his E21 running at Jerez tomorrow, before handing the car over to team-mate Kimi Räikkönen for the Thursday and Friday sessions.

    Romain Grosjean:
    “The feeling is good from the E21; it feels very similar to the E20 from behind the wheel, even if it does look different from the outside. Once again Enstone has produced a car that is quick from the very first lap. We spent a little bit more time than ideal in the garage today, but that’s normal in testing. I’m happy we completed 54 laps, and even happier that all of them were quick. We now have a good idea of the new tyres and we’ll have some challenges from them; the grip level is there but performance does fall away with graining. That said, Jerez is a very specific track in this regard. The speed came easy today and we didn’t respond to the other cars going faster in the afternoon. We should go even better tomorrow.”

    James Allison, Technical Director:
    “It’s great to see the fruits of our labours take to the track for the first time here in Jerez. Everything has looked positive so far. The feedback from Romain has been encouraging and on the engineering side there have been no particular dramas of note. Overall it was a promising first day for this car and we hope to continue in this vein for the next days of testing.”

    Mercedes – Nico Roseberg

    Nico Rosberg began the first pre-season test for MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS today, following the launch of the team’s new car and a filming day in Jerez yesterday.

    • Nico completed three runs this morning before an electrical problem caused the car to stop on track
    • Unburnt fuel in the exhausts subsequently ignited but did not cause any serious damage
    • Further investigation identified that the fault originated in a wiring loom
    • The necessary modifications are now taking place ready for tomorrow

    Lewis Hamilton is due to drive on Wednesday for his first day of track testing with the team.

    Nico Rosberg: 
    At the start of winter testing, you often encounter small issues because the car you’re running is a brand new design. We had an electrical problem this morning and, once we had found the root cause, chose to modify the parts to make sure it didn’t happen again. Of course, at this time of year all you want to do is spend time in the car and get a feeling for how it’s working, but these hiccups are just part of the game. During the laps I completed this morning, I had a good feeling with the car and it felt solid.

    Paul Di Resta on Day 1 of Pre-season testing at Jerez on Tuesday. A Sahara Force India photo.

    Test dates        Four days (February 5-8)

    Pos      Driver                           Constructor                              Best time          Laps

    1          Jenson Button              Vodafone McLaren Mercedes   1m 18.861s       37

    2          Mark Webber                 Red Bull Racing                        1m 19.709s       73

    3          Romain Grosjean           Lotus-Renault                            1m 19.796s       54

    4          Paul di Resta                Force India                                1m 20.343s       89

    5          Daniel Ricciardo            Scuderia Toro Rossa                 1m 20.401s       70

    6          Felipe Massa                Ferrari                                       1m 20.536s       64

    7          Nico Hulkenberg            Sauber                                      1m 20.699s       79

    8          Nico Rosberg                Mercedes AMG                         1m 20.846s       11

    9          Pastor Maldonado         Williams                                    1m 20.864s       84

    10         Giedo van der Garde     Caterham                                  1m 21.915s       64

    11         Max Chilton                   Marussia                                   1m 24.176s       29

     

  • Caterham F1 Team unveils CT03 by Charles, Giedo

    Jerez (Spain), 5 Feb 2013: CT03, Caterham F1 Team’s 2013 race car, was unveiled in the pitlane of the Circuito de Jerez, Spain, on day one of the first official 2013 pre-season test. The car was revealed by the team’s race drivers Charles Pic, who will race in car #20, and Giedo van der Garde who will be in car #21 for the forthcoming season, according to a Caterham F1 team Press Release.

    The 2013 car has technical features that distinguish it from its predecessor, CT01, and it will race in an updated livery which sees the team’s green and yellow paint-scheme refreshed and lightened for the season ahead.
    Mark Smith, Technical Director, Caterham F1 Team: “CT03 is the first car we have produced in the Leafield Technical Centre so it marks an important milestone in the development of our team. The season ahead presented us with an interesting challenge early in the design process as it is the last year of the current regulations before the introduction of the new engine rules in 2014. With that in mind we decided that CT03 would be an evolution of CT01 rather than a complete re-design, allowing us to focus our resources on developing areas of last year’s package where opportunities would give us the greatest return, whilst also beginning work on the 2014 package.
    “We have made a number of significant changes to the car that takes it from the package that gained us tenth place in the 2012 Championship in Brazil into CT03. Among the most obvious are around the lower chassis where the sidepods have been significantly undercut to improve airflow to the rear of the car. The diffuser, engine cover and cooling exits have also seen major changes and there are more subtle improvements to other areas of the car, such as the sidepod turning vanes and the lower tea-tray area. This is the package we will take to race one in Australia and as part of the 2013 upgrade program we will then bring new front and rear wings and a new diffuser soon after the start of the season.
    “However, the CT03 car that starts testing in Spain on day one in Jerez is not the only visible change amongst a number of other important developments at Caterham this winter. Back in Leafield, we  are fast completing our own ‘driver in the loop’ simulator, created with the support of Dell and powered by Alienware. This is a major asset for our team that puts us on a par with any of our competitors and constitutes another example of the long-term plans we are activating that will help us continue to grow and develop into the team we know we can become.
    “Personally I am excited about the season ahead, and the challenges that face us. Regardless of the resources and budget available, all the teams will be racing in 2013 with one eye on next year when the new rules may present opportunities to make significant gains, much greater than those available under static rules. Our whole team is ready for its fourth season in F1 and I am sure it is going to be another thrilling championship.”
    Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal, Caterham F1 Team: “This is the first car we have produced since I joined the team so this is a proud day for me. I am very pleased that we have been able to allocate our resources and budgets as efficiently as possible to produce a car that will allow us to consolidate our position in Formula One whilst also starting work on the 2014 car as early as possible.
    “From the outside, the most obvious change to CT03 car is the livery. Whilst retaining the green and yellow paint scheme that has become synonymous with our team since 2010, we have refreshed both colours to enhance their visibility on track and give them what will be, we believe, one of the best looking liveries in the pitlane.
    “Driving the cars this year are Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde, two drivers who give us a good mix of youth and experience inside and outside Formula One. Charles and Giedo are both young and dynamic and we expect that their enthusiasm for the sport and the team will be fuelling our growth. Additionally, they provide clear proof of our dedication to developing young driver talent and now, any aspiring driver who dreams of F1 can see that there is a clear route to the F1 grid under the guidance of the Caterham Driver Development Program, the 2013 format of which will soon be presented.”
    “Off track our team is in a healthy position. We are still a small team but our stated objective is to be the most efficient of all F1 Teams, and thanks to our determination, our scalability and our processes, there is no reason we cannot achieve this in recognition of the ongoing investments our shareholders and team partners make in us.
    “We have partners in GE / Safran, EADS / Airbus, Dell / Intel, McGregor and Renault who are the envy of the pitlane. Our relationships with each of those businesses continue to develop and we are delighted that such blue-chip brands share our vision and are an integral part of our team.
    “As part of Caterham Group we are also involved in the Renault / Caterham Cars partnership, one of the most exciting projects in the global motoring industry and one that means we start the 2013 season as one of the five car-makers on the F1 grid.
    “The move to Leafield was the last big piece of the jigsaw, and now we are settled in our new, permanent home, we are in the process of increasing our integration level to better control the quality, cost, and lead time of our supply chain. I am confident that this will ultimately translate into faster laptimes to reduce the gap with the midfield cars. CT03 is the first car to be built in Leafield and while we are realistic enough to know that we are not going to be the fastest car on the grid, we do think we will have one of the best looking cars in 2013. I will be working so that one day we have both!”
    Tony Fernandes, Co-Chairman, Caterham Group: “This is the first car we have produced from our factory in Leafield and the last we will build under the current regulations. The team has produced a car that is an evolution of the 2012 car, building on that platform to give us a chance of continuing to make progress towards the teams ahead, whilst also dedicating enough resource to start work as early as possible on the 2014 car.
    “For me this is going to be the story of the 2013 season – every team wants to be as competitive as possible this year, but with such fundamental rule changes next year resources and budgets dictate that there will have to be a cut-off point in the development of the current season cars so focus can be switched to 2014. We will bring updates to the car after several races and I am happy that the plan we have for 2013 will give us the chance to fight this year, but, importantly, will allow us to take full advantage of the new rules in 2014.
    “Having stepped up to the role of Co-Chairman of Caterham Group I will be playing less of a day-to-day role with the team but I am delighted that we go into our fourth season in such a strong position. Caterham Group continues  to grow and since launching our partnership with Renault in November we have started work on the new Alpine and Caterham Cars products which is obviously very exciting. Caterham Composites and Caterham Technology & Innovation are also forging ahead with a number of very interesting projects, some of which will be unveiled throughout 2013.
    “I am realistic enough to know that we still have a long journey ahead of us, but the dream is steadily coming true. We have invested in the long-term, not taken any short-cuts and we have everything in place to keep moving forwards.”

    Ends

    Caterham unveils CT03, the new car for 2013 F1 season at Jerez, Spain on 5 Feb. A Caterham F1 team photo.

  • Sauber F1 team launches new C32-Ferrari

    Hinwil, 2 Feb 2013: The Sauber F1 Team presented the Sauber C32-Ferrari to its partners and the media on Saturday, the 2nd of February. Drivers Nico Hülkenberg (DE, 25) and Esteban Gutiérrez (MX, 21) pulled back the covers on the new car at the team’s base in Hinwil, Switzerland. The roll-out of the Sauber C32 will take place during the first winter test at Jerez de la Frontera on 5th February.

    “Two thousand and twelve was a very successful year for us,” said Monisha Kaltenborn, the Indian-born CEO of Sauber as she looks ahead to the new season. “We not only moved up from seventh to sixth place in the constructors’ standings, but also improved our points total from 44 in 2011 to 126 last season. We have a strong platform in place now, on which we are aiming to build and continue our upward curve.” Nico Hulkenber, who led for 33 laps in the Force India car in the last race of the 2012 season in Brazil moved on to Sauber and gets praise from the team Principal.

    The Team Principal is bullish about the prospects for the team’s new driver pairing: “We have had our eye on Nico Hülkenberg for some time and have been impressed by his performances. He is very quick, but, most importantly, he’s also very efficient. He understands how to pick up as many points as possible from a particular race situation. Esteban Gutiérrez is a driver we know very well as a result of a relationship with the team going back several years, and he has already had a number of opportunities to test with our car. Plus, he has always stayed in close contact with our engineers, which has allowed him to learn a lot about Formula One. I’m in no doubt he is now ready to take the final step and put his outstanding talent on display.”

    Gutiérrez has been succeeded as test and reserve driver by 21-year-old Dutchman Robin Frijns. “We rate him as an extraordinarily gifted young man, so we decided to give him this opportunity,” explained Kaltenborn. “We will now set about introducing him step by step to life in Formula One.”

    Hülkenberg is entering his third F1 season in a race seat. The German spent 2010 – his rookie year – with Williams and 2012 at the wheel of a Force India car. “The Sauber F1 Team made significant progress last year from 2011,” the German driver recognised. “Now the team is ready to take the next step, and I want to play my part in making that happen. My personal aim is to put in a good, steady performance this season.”

    Gutiérrez won the GP3 Championship with something to spare in 2010. He promptly made the move up to GP2 and finished third in last year’s standings. Now the Mexican is focused on the future: “I’m really looking forward to my first season in Formula One. My long association with the Sauber F1 Team has given me the chance to understand the complexity of Formula One. But I also realise, of course, that I still have a huge amount to learn. I will be working flat out to adapt to the whole F1 environment as quickly as possible and, if things open up during races, I want to make sure I’m ready to take full advantage.”

    Test and reserve driver Frijns (21) spent last year competing in the World Series by Renault – and crowned his season with the championship title. “I’m overjoyed that the Sauber F1 Team has given me this chance. I will do everything I can to support the team as effectively as possible and, at the same time, learn how things work in the professional world of Formula One,” said the Dutch youngster.

    The three drivers and the new Sauber C32-Ferrari are set to make a fine combination.

    Sauber C32-Ferrari – technical details

    The F1 technical regulations have barely changed going into the 2013 season and yet the new Sauber C32-Ferrari is a very different proposition visually from its predecessor – thanks to a smooth, slightly downward-sloping nose section and, principally, much slimmer sidepods.

    “The C31 was an extremely competitive car with many strengths,” explained Matt Morris, the Sauber F1 Team’s Chief Designer. Our aim was to further improve these strengths and eliminate its few weaknesses.

    The sidepods of the C32 are notably slimmer than the Formula One norm up to now and are responsible for giving the new car a very distinctive look. “The airflow in this area has a major influence over everything that happens at the rear of the car,” said Morris, offering a glimpse into the team’s thinking.

    An extremely slim rear end was high up the engineers’ list of priorities. One of the key aspects here is the arrangement of the radiators, which is very different from that in the C31. A look at the rear end of the new car reveals the engineers’ rigorous approach to this area.

    As before, the car’s KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), engine and gearbox are supplied by Ferrari. The KERS is based on last year’s version, but its weight and packaging volume have been optimised.

    The rear axle is a totally new development. Although it still works according to the pullrod principle, its layout has been designed to better interact with the airflow around the rear of the car, while further improving the tyre management.

    There was also potential for improvement in how the tyres are used in qualifying, as Morris explained: “Our car looked after its tyres very well during races last year. However, we had problems now and again when it came to getting the maximum out of them in qualifying. We’ve looked at this phenomenon closely and made the required adjustments.”

    Another high priority was reducing the car’s overall weight, to allow a better distribution of the ballast, while retaining its structural requirements and mechanical setup flexibility. “My colleagues have done an excellent job here, and we have even exceeded our original targets”, praised Morris.

    Like last year, the Sauber F1 Team will use a basic version of the car for its rollout event and introduce a major update before the first race of the season.

    “We have set ourselves lofty goals with the Sauber C32-Ferrari, and I’m confident that we’ll be able to meet them. The C31 gave us a very good basis, to which we’ve made further improvements. Our aim is to line up for 2013 with a car that is competitive from the first race, but which also offers extensive potential for further development,” summed up Morris.

    endsIndian-born Monisha Kalternborn, (centre) the Team Principal of Sauber admires the C32 at its launch on 2 Feb 2013 in Hinwil. A Sauber F1 team photo.

  • Sahara Force India unveils VJM06 at Silverstone

    Silverstone, 1 Feb 2013: Sahara Force India unveiled its 2013 challenger today as Paul Di Resta pulled the covers off the VJM06 at Silverstone circuit.
     
    The VJM06 is the third car to be overseen by Technical Director, Andrew Green, and builds on the strengths of the 2012 car. With stable technical rules the car is more evolution than revolution with the removal of the ‘step’ nose being the most obvious visual change.
    “The VJM06 doesn’t look

    Sahara Force India unveils VJM06 at Silverstone on Friday. A Sahara Force India photo

    massively different to its predecessor, but beneath the skin we’ve looked at every detail to try and find more performance,” says Team Principal, Dr Vijay Mallya. “I’ve followed the development of the car closely and I’m proud of what we have achieved. The objective now is to make sure we build on the promise of last year and have a strong start to the season.”

    Summing up the approach to the design of the VJM06, Andrew Green said: “It’s a brand new car from the ground-up – everything is new. We discussed carrying over big chunks of last year’s car, including the chassis, but decided not to. There were still some gains to be had with the chassis, so we elected to take the performance benefits. The biggest change that everybody is going to notice this year is the fairing on top of the nose to hide the ‘step’. It’s neutral as far as the car’s performance is concerned but tidies up the flow over the top of the chassis.”
    Chief Operating Officer, Otmar Szafnauer, praised the team’s efforts over the winter to develop the VJM06: “We’re very optimistic. We’ve been working hard over the winter, trying to make improvements where we know we can find performance. Everything has come together very nicely. We’ve also focussed on operational strength by bolstering our simulator programme and increasing our CFD capacity with new hardware.”
     
    Paul Di Resta, half of the team’s 2013 line-up, was delighted to see his new car: “Seeing the car built and complete for the first time is a special feeling. I’ve followed its progress in the tunnel and it looks very impressive – aggressive and fast. Now I’m just eager to get out there and see where we stand compared to our competitors. After the winter I feel refreshed and keen to get back to business.”
     
    The Sahara Force India cars will be powered by Mercedes engines with the gearbox supplied by McLaren Applied Technologies for a fifth season. This will be the third season with the Mercedes KERS.
    ends

  • TW Steel, now Official Timing Partner to Sahara Force India

    TW Steel CEO Jordy Cobelens (left) and Bob Fernley pose after the partnership.. A photo by Sahara Force India.

    Sahara Force India is proud to announce the beginning of a multi-year partnership with TW Steel, which sees the Dutch watchmaker become the team’s Official Timing Partner.

    The global lifestyle brand known for being ‘Big in Oversized Watches’ was unveiled as a team partner at the launch of Sahara Force India’s 2013 challenger, the VJM06, at Silverstone Circuit this morning.
    The recognisable ‘two-dots’ logo of TW Steel, will feature prominently on the team’s major brand platforms including the car, the drop-down timing monitors used in the garages and on the sleeves of the drivers’ racesuits. 
    As part of its commitment to Sahara Force India, TW Steel will produce an official team watch range for retail world-wide. The brand will use this new global partnership as a marketing platform to engage consumers through the 6000 retail outlets currently selling the brand in over 100 countries worldwide.
    Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director of Sahara Force India: “The partnership with TW Steel is the perfect way to begin the 2013 season and we are delighted to welcome them to the Sahara Force India family. With the global reach of Formula One, our unique positioning in the Indian market place and our shared ambition for success on the track, I am sure that the relationship will bring big rewards for both TW Steel and Sahara Force India.”
    TW Steel CEO and co-owner, Jordy Cobelens: “I’m naturally very excited to be partnering with Sahara Force India. We know the merits of being involved with a team competing in Formula One and the brand awareness that brings. Our new partnership represents a relationship where both parties are keen to bring success to each other. Sahara Force India has such a strong following around the world, notably of course in India, a key growth opportunity we’ve targeted for TW Steel’s on-going development. I’m excited to have our brand working with such fantastic entrepreneurs as Dr Vijay Mallya and Mr Subrata Roy Sahara.  Like TW Steel they’ve showcased their ambition and proved they like to make bold statements. We have lots of synergy and we look forward to being a part of the team’s progressive journey both on and off track.”
    About TW Steel
    With its name meaning ‘The Watch in Steel’, TW Steel is firmly established as a big, bold, global lifestyle brand.  Its timepiece collections are reflective of and available for all tastes and occasions with innovative design and luxurious styling paired together with Swiss build quality and an exceptional price point.  TW Steel offers a defined sense of individuality and shows to the world that as a bold and ambitious personality, you wear a statement watch that truly reflects who you are.
    Proudly Dutch, TW Steel is led by its entrepreneurial CEO and co-owner Jordy Cobelens – whose talents have been recognized with Ernst & Young’s ‘Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2011’ in The Netherlands.  While Jordy Cobelens oversees the building of the TW Steel brand, his father and co-owner, Ton Cobelens, serves as the Chief Design Officer.  Having launched in 2005, and now with 140 models, TW Steel has attained a global appeal while creating an internationally recognized and respected brand name offering truly affordable luxury available in over 100 countries. www.twsteel.com
    About Sahara Force India Formula One Team
    Sahara Force India Formula One Team is beginning its sixth year of competition in the FIA Formula One World Championship. The team was founded in 2008 when Dr Vijay Mallya, Chairman of India’s iconic UB Group, launched the first-ever Indian Formula One team. The cars incorporate the colours of the Indian flag and the team is a sporting representation of the emerging generation of young, aspirational Indians and the growing strength of India as a nation. In 2011 a historic partnership was agreed as Sahara India Pariwar became co-owners of the Silverstone-based team. With the support of Sahara, the team is driven by two of India’s greatest industrialists who both recognise the value of using sport as a marketing platform to build some of India’s biggest brands.  For more details visit: www.saharaforceindiaf1.com

  • Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ spectacular parade for MP4-28

    Jenson Button (left) and Sergio Perez at the launch of MP4-28 at Woking on 31 Jan 2013. A Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 team photo.

    Woking, 31 Jan 2013: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes launched its 2013 Formula 1 challenger and kicked off a year of 50th anniversary celebrations with a spectacular parade of classic racing cars at the McLaren Technology Centre on Thursday.

    The parade brought to life a string of race- and championship-winning McLarens from across the decades, included 1970’s M8D CanAm sportscar, Emerson Fittipaldi’s iconic 1974 M23, Ayrton Senna’s dominant 1988 MP4/4, our 1995 Le Mans-winning F1 GTR, Mika Hakkinen’s MP4-13 car from 1998 and Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 MP4-23.

    The display culminated in the arrival of our 2013 race drivers, Jenson Button and Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez – who arrived driving a development model of our new McLaren P1TM sportscar and a 12C Spider, respectively.

    Evolution through history

    The display of classic McLarens was a timely reminder of the weight of history that constantly hangs over a team with such high expectations each and every season. Following such a winning pedigree is the aim and intention of each and every man and woman who comes to work at McLaren every day.

    And, for everyone involved in its inception, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-28 is the logical culmination of everything we’ve ever done: it’s the sum of 50 years’ experience, expertise and passion.

    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.

    Jenson and Checo – a perfect blend

    Jenson and Checo continue the trend of evolution through history.

    Jenson begins his fourth season at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes as the team’s most experienced driver. Indeed, during his time here, he has won more races (eight) and scored more points (672) than during the rest of his 10-year Formula 1 career.

    For 2013, he is keenly anticipating the opportunity to maximise all his skill and depth of experience to spearhead the development of the car across the championship season.

    By contrast, Checo is starting only his third season in Formula 1, aged 23. Young, eager to learn, and already impressing the team with his ability to absorb information, he is perfectly poised to benefit from the team’s professionalism and experience as he develops and gathers pace during his important first season as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver.

    Our driver pairing is the perfect blend of youth and experience.

    We will once again be targeting both the drivers’ and constructors’ world championships. The ongoing strength in depth of the organisation, plus the exciting addition of Sergio to the proven package of Jenson gives the whole team strong encouragement and motivation for the year ahead.

    Powering the market with 50 years of expertise

     

    Our unrivalled experience as a British F1 team has enabled us to develop cutting-edge technologies. We’re proud that the technology and expertise pioneered at the racetrack and developed by McLaren Applied Technologies, working in partnership with Vodafone, were used byBritish canoeists, rowers, cyclists and sailors, helping to bring home 15 gold medals last summer.

    In partnership with Vodafone and Birmingham Children’s Hospital, we have begun a successful pilot utilising Formula 1 data management expertise to improve the monitoring of children in intensive care – a project we hope to continue and expand in 2013.

    We will also be supplying motors, transmissions and data systems for teams entering the new Formula E series, which is set to hit city streets in 2014.

    The depth of trust and respect we enjoy with our partners has allowed us to extend record-breaking relationships with the likes of Hugo Boss (32 years), TAG Heuer (28 years), Kenwood (23 years), ExxonMobil and Mercedes-Benz (19 years) and SAP (15 years).

    In addition, our longstanding partnerships with Johnnie Walker and Hilton (nine years), Vodafone and Santander (seven years) are globally successful. Our recent strategic partnership with GlaxoSmithKline, which has seen GSK scientists develop a successful drinks formula to hydrate the drivers, will see the launch of the McLaren GSK Centre for Applied Performance at the end of the year.

    Last year, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes also became the first motorsport company to retain the challenging Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of our continued efforts to reduce the impact we have on the environment.

    2013: the most exciting year yet for McLaren Automotive

    On the road, McLaren Automotive’s high performance cars have been setting new standards. Last year we launched the 12C Spider, the open-roofed version of the groundbreaking 12C, and also unveiled the McLaren P1TM, which launches this year with the aim of being the best drivers’s car in the world, on both the road and track.

    Evolution through history – or history through evolution? In 2013, we are set to do both.

    Jenson will begin track testing of the MP4-28 at Spain’s Circuito de Jerez on Tuesday February 5.

    JENSON & CHECO: A PERFECT BLEND

    JENSON BUTTON (GBR)

    Date of birth                 January 19 1980 (33)

    Titles                            2009 world champion

    GPs                              228

    Wins                            15 (eight for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes)

    Poles                           8

    FLs                              8

    Points                          999

    Websites                      www.jensonbutton.com

          Twitter @jensonbutton

    “I’m going into my fourth season as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver and, more than ever, I know and understand the strengths and abilities of this team. This year is really about continuity and consolidation.

    “Obviously, the biggest change for 2013 is my new team-mate, Checo. It’s always interesting and inspiring to begin working with a new face, and it already feels like a very positive working relationship.

    “I know from personal experience that it can feel initially daunting when you walk into the McLaren Technology Centre for the very first time, but I also remember how quickly I was made to feel at home and how welcoming I found the whole McLaren family. I’m sure Checo already feels very much at ease here.

    “We were extremely strong throughout the whole of the 2012 season, but, for one reason or another, we couldn’t quite pull it all together to challenge for the championships. That’s something we want to address for 2013. I’ve seen just how closely everybody has been working together on this car, and I think we’ve got the basis for a very strong season.

    “We’ll be working extremely hard during the pre-season to ensure we go to the first race with bulletproof reliability. Operationally, too, I think we’ve learned and developed from last year, and that will help us run a much smoother and stronger campaign.

    “I also want to say that today’s demonstration of some classic McLarens makes me feel incredibly proud to be a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver. I don’t think anybody with a love for motorsport could fail to be moved by sound and fury of the cars we saw here today – they’ll always make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

    “This year’s car is the best we’ve ever made – I know the engineers have left absolutely no stone unturned in wringing every ounce of performance from every available area. I cannot wait to get behind the wheel and attempt to carry forward the incredible legacy that lives beneath the skin of every single man and woman who works at McLaren.”

     

    SERGIO PEREZ (MEX)

    Date of birth                 January 26 1990 (23)

    Titles                            –

    GPs                              37

    Wins                            –

    Poles                           –

    FLs                              1

    Points                          80

    Websites                      www.sergioperezf1.com

          Twitter @schecoperez

    “For me, this is a great day. In fact, every day this year has been great: I’ve been working hard with my new team to get everything ready for the start of the 2013 season – and it’s been an incredible journey to get to know this incredible organisation.

    “I’m incredibly proud to be a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver. Seeing such famous cars brought to life today, and knowing that I’m driving for the team on it’s 50th anniversary – that’s such a special feeling.

    “Of course, I am fully aware of the steep slope ahead of me: it has already been an intense couple of weeks, getting to grips with a new team, meeting my engineers and mechanics, learning new ways of working and, of course, learning all about a brand new car – something I’ll need to do with just six days of on-track testing. It’s a big challenge.

    “But it’s definitely going to be an exciting few weeks: although I’ve been racing in Formula 1 for the past two seasons, every racing car is different and it always takes a little time to adjust. Firstly, I’ll need to understand the different characteristics of the car; secondly, I’ll learn how to best work with my engineers to make the car suit my personal driving style. It’s going to be an interesting and exciting journey.

    “But I’m more prepared than I’ve ever been for the start of a new season. I feel extremely fit, focused and refreshed – there’s still a lot to do, but my aims are to feel confident, comfortable and ready to race by the time I land in Australia in just a few weeks’ time.”

    MARTIN WHITMARSH

    Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

    “The launch of a new Formula 1 car is always an exciting and slightly nerve-wracking occasion. Today’s parade of some of our greatest and most significant cars was a thrilling way to kick off our 50th anniversary celebrations and also our 2013 campaign – but it’s a reminder of the tremendous responsibility everyone within the McLaren Technology Centre shares to uphold the legacy began by Bruce McLaren and taken on by Teddy Mayer and Ron Dennis.

    “It’s fully appropriate that the echoes of the past should be made to reverberate around the glass walls of a thoroughly modern building like the McLaren Technology Centre. Equally, however, we’ve never lost sight of the fact that we’ll always be linked to that fearless band of enterprising pioneers who came together to form Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd in the autumn of 1963. Like Bruce and his closest friends, we still have the belief that we can go out into the world, risk everything and emerge victorious. That, ultimately, is the spirit that drives this organisation.

    “For 2013, of course, we go racing to win. With Jenson and Checo, and this fantastic-looking new car, I believe we’re extremely well prepared for another competitive season. Jenson is driving better than ever – he’s the most experienced driver in Formula 1, but he makes every ounce of that experience count: he’s peerless in his ability to read a race and one of the very fastest drivers out there. He’s a consummate professional, too, and will revel in working hard to drive this team through the year.

    “Checo joins us after a sensational 2012 season and he’s immediately proved that he’s intelligent, modest, hard-working and, make no mistake; very, very quick. Of course, there’ll be a learning curve to overcome as he gets used to our organisation, particularly during the hustle and bustle of the early-season race weekends, but he understands that we are placing no pressure on him.

    “This is an exciting time for the whole team. In our 50th anniversary season, I want Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to underline why we are the finest grand prix team in the world.”

    Vodafone & Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

    Vodafone, one of world’s largest mobile communications companies, became title partner of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team in 2007, extending the relationship in 2010 to become the Official Total Communications Provider.

    Dominant title sponsorship branding can be seen on the MP4-28 cars and the drivers’ and pit crews’ overalls and helmets. In addition, the partnership delivers an innovative, powerful and integrated marketing platform enabling Vodafone customers to get closer to the action through unique experiences, innovative content, experiential events, advertising, offers and promotions.

    As well as providing a wide range of services to support the on-track success of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, including fixed, mobile and broadband networks, content and communication services and associated devices, Vodafone works with McLaren Group away from the track.

    Vodafone & McLaren Applied Technologies

    Using its F1-derived science and cutting edge telecommunications technology, McLaren Applied Technologies and Vodafone have partnered on numerous ground-breaking projects. In this past year alone they have worked with Birmingham Children’s Hospital. They also assisted Great Britain’s cyclists, rowers, sailors and canoeists with their preparations last summer.

    Vodafone and McLaren Applied Technologies have developed advanced systems for several sports and healthcare scenarios, making use of Vodafone’s expertise in enabling large amounts of critically important data to be transferred securely and reliably.

    MP4-28 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

    Chassis

    Monocoque                              McLaren-moulded carbonfibre composite incorporating front and side impact structures, and survival cell

    Front suspension                     Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pullrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement

    Rear suspension                      Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pullrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement

    Electronics                               McLaren Electronic Systems. Including chassis control, engine control, data acquisition, dashboard, alternator, sensors, data analysis and telemetry. 

    Bodywork                                 Carbon-fibre composite. Including engine cover, sidepods, floor, nose, front wing and rear wing.

    Driver-operated drag reduction system

    Lubricants & Fluids                  Mobilith SHC™ 1500 Grease – lubricates the four tripod joints on the drive-shafts resisting the high temperatures generated by the exhaust and braking systems

    Mobilith SHC™ 220 Grease – minimises rolling resistance in the car’s ceramic wheel bearings to help maximise speed

    Mobil SHC™ Hydraulic Oil – running at over 200 bar and 100° C this fluid is an essential part of the hydraulic system which controls gear shift, the throttles and operation of DRS and steering systems

    Tyres                                        Pirelli P Zero

    Radio                                       Kenwood

    Race wheels                             Enkei

    Brake calipers                          Akebono

    Master cylinders                       Akebono

    Batteries                                   GS Yuasa Corporation

    Steering                                   McLaren power-assisted

    Instruments                              McLaren Electronic Systems

    Paint solutions                         AkzoNobel Car Refinishes using Sikkens products

    Engine

    Type                                         Mercedes-Benz FO 108F

    Capacity                                   2.4 litres

    Cylinders                                 8

    Maximum rpm                          18,000

    Bank angle                               90°

    Piston bore maximum              98mm

    Number of valves                     32

    Fuel                                         ExxonMobil High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel)

    Spark plugs                             NGK Formula 1 specification racing spark plugs

    Lubricants                                Mobil 1™ Engine Oil – for long engine life, protection and cooling combined with improved fuel economy

    Weight                                     95kg (minimum FIA regulation weight)

    KERS Hybrid

    Type                                         Mercedes-Benz

    e-Motor                                     Engine-mounted electrical motor/generator

    ESS                                         Integrated energy storage cells and power electronics

    Power                                       60 kW

    Transmission

    Gearbox                                   McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre composite

    Integral rear impact structure

    Gears                                       Seven forward and one reverse

    Gear selection                          McLaren seamless shift, hand-operated

    Clutch                                      Carbon/carbon, hand-operated

    Lubricants                                Mobil 1 SHC™ Gear Oil –  provides reduced fluid traction losses improving gearbox efficiency and delivering more power to the rear wheels

    ends