INDIA in F1

Tag: Formula One

  • Lotus anounces Gerard Lopez as Team Principal

    Enstone, 24 Jan 2014: In order to continue strengthening its management structure, to further increase Genii’s role in the team and to close the gap between its strategic, commercial and sporting activities, Lotus F1 Team is pleased to announce that its co-Chairman, Gérard Lopez, will combine his position on the board with the role of Team Principal with immediate effect. As a result, the other chairmanship responsibilities will be shared with co-Chairman Andy Ruhan.

    The team will announce the arrival of new commercial partners and sponsors when it unveils its 2014 car, the E22, at the beginning of the first Bahrain pre-season test in February. The team will also confirm its organisational structure for 2014 ahead of this test. The team management, car and partner portfolio will illustrate the team’s will and desire to continue its quest to become one of the strongest teams in Formula 1 in every sense.

    Gérard Lopez, co-Chairman and Team Principal:
    “Lotus F1 Team has never stood still and we head into what promises to be an exciting 2014 season with an innovative new car, new partners and a new management structure at Enstone. Great things have been achieved over the past years and we need to continue this momentum. With this in mind, we are proud to announce that we have concluded an agreement with YotaPhone and its shareholders. YotaPhone shareholders will become important partners to Genii and YotaPhone a sponsor to the Lotus F1 team this year. 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.”

    ends

  • Daniel Juncadella joins Sahara Force India as reserve driver

    Silverstone, 24 Jan 2014: Sahara Force India announced on Friday that Spain’s Daniel Juncadella would be joining as a reserve driver for the 2014 season.
    According to a press release, the 22-year-old will attend all races with the team and take part in several Friday practice sessions to gain valuable track time and experience behind the wheel of the VJM07.
    In addition to his duties with Sahara Force India, Daniel’s racing focus will remain on the DTM with Mercedes-Benz.
    Reserve driver Daniel Juncadella joins driver line-up for 2014. A Sahara Force India photo
    Reserve driver Daniel Juncadella joins driver line-up for 2014. A Sahara Force India photo
    Team Principal and Managing Director Vijay Mallya, said: “Daniel is an exciting prospect and I am delighted to welcome him to Sahara Force India. Over the last few years we have always tried to support young, talented drivers and we will continue down this path by giving Daniel the opportunity to drive the VJM07 on Fridaymornings at selected races. Daniel will also play an important role in our simulator programme at the factory, which remains an increasingly important development tool.”
    ends
    Daniel Juncadella: “Joining Sahara Force India is a dream come true. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to learn and will hopefully take me a step closer to eventually racing in Formula One. To work with the team at the track and in the factory will give me some valuable experience and I will do my best to make a contribution to help the team achieve its goals in 2014.”

  • World Motor Sport Council meets at Geneva

    Geneva, 23 Jan 2014: An extraordinary meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) took place today (23 January) in Geneva, Switzerland. The following decisions were taken according to an FIA release:

    FIA logo1FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

    The FIA President reaffirmed to members of the WMSC the FIA’s intention to assure a healthy, affordable and spectacular FIA Formula One World Championship for the long-term future. At a meeting of the F1 Strategy Group yesterday, chaired by the FIA President, and attended by Bernie Ecclestone and the teams, it was unanimously agreed that cost reduction and cost control regulations will be presented to the WMSC in June 2014 for introduction in January 2015.

    Amendments to the 2014 Sporting Regulations were also approved, but are subject to ratification by the F1 Commission and teams. These include:

    • The Stewards may now impose a five second time penalty which can be taken before work is carried out on the car in a pit stop
    • Team personnel must also wear helmets during qualifying, as well as the race
    • Drivers may not stop on the slowing down lap to save fuel for sampling and subsequent analysis; this will not be considered justifiable reason for stopping
    • For 2014 only, each team will be allowed six curfew ‘jokers’, previously there were two permitted. This is to allow more flexibility for working on the new engines and cars

    Amendments to the 2014 Technical Regulations, subject to agreement of the F1 Commission and teams:

    • The weight of the car, without fuel, must not be less than 691kg at all times during the Event. The weight limit has increased by 1kg to take into account the difference in weight between the tyres in 2013 and 2014

    Amendments to the 2015 Sporting Regulations, subject to agreement of the F1 Commission:

    • To be considered as a constructor, teams will now not need to design and manufacture suspension and brake ducts

    Amendments to the 2015 Technical Regulations, subject to agreement of the F1 Commission:

    • The car minimum weight has been increased by 10kg, to 701kg, for 2015
    • All tyre heating devices will be prohibited in 2015
    • For safety reasons, the front part of the chassis will not be able to climb too steeply rearward of the front of the chassis.

    FUNDING REVIEW COMMISSION

    With the framework for the implementation of the 2013 Concorde Agreement relating to Formula One having come into force – which provides the FIA with significantly improved financial means to pursue its regulatory missions – the WMSC has approved the creation of a task force charged with identifying key objectives and missions for the FIA and its membership. The newly-created Funding Review Commission will be divided into sub-commissions for both sport and mobility, chaired by Deputy Presidents Graham Stoker and Brian Gibbons respectively.

    Within sport, and under the responsibility of the FIA President, the intention is to develop programmes to reinforce the growth of the FIA and its Championships, and motor sport in general. In addition, the Funding Review Commission and the sport sub-commission will be responsible for identifying areas in which the FIA can further enhance the work of the ASNs.

    Proposals will be subject to approval by the FIA Senate. Nick Craw, President of the FIA Senate, will be permanently invited to every meeting session.

    Graham Stoker, FIA Deputy President for Sport, was nominated as Chairman of the Commission and will be supported by the following associates representing the global FIA membership:

    Jose Abed (Americas)

    Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah (Middle East)

    Morrie Chandler (Pacific region)

    Heping Wan (Asia region)

    Surinder Thatthi (Africa)

    Nicolas Deschaux (West Europe)

    Zrinko Gregurek (East Europe)

    Garry Connelly (FIA Institute)

    OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PRESIDENT FOR THE CO-ORDINATION OF ZONES AND THE REGIONS

    With the goal of increasing co-ordination between ASNs across the zones and regions, an official representative has been appointed; Nicolas Deschaux (FRA). The plan is to perform an audit on the level of activity of each of the zones and regions recognised by the FIA, and at the regional level in general; and to harmonise the status of the zones and regions (procedures for appointing the co-ordinators, length of mandate, etc.) and clarification of the zones’ relations with the FIA and its specialised commissions.

    HISTORIC MOTOR SPORT

    The WMSC approved the Historic Motor Sport Commission’s nominations for the presidencies of the sub-commissions and working group as follows:

    Vehicle Compliance Sub‐Commission                                  Jan Mienkinsky (AUT)

    Historic Rally Sub‐Commission                                            Rod Parkin (GBR)

    Historic Technical Working Group                                        Simon Hadfield (GBR)

    Historic Hill Climb Sub‐Commission                                     Stan Minarik (CZE)

    Historic Regulations and Appendix K Sub‐Commission          Alessandro Degan (ITA)

    Historic Circuit Sub‐Commission                                          TBA

    GT

    At its December 2013 meeting, the WMSC agreed that an FIA label may be granted to each interested GT International Series upon payment of a specific license fee and subject to compliance with a certain number of criteria to be defined by the FIA.

    Today, the members of the WMSC approved guidelines that will assist in the standardisation of regulations, in particular relating to Balance of Performance and the list of FIA drivers’ categorisation, both of which will be provided by the FIA to each Promoter of the Series concerned. One-year contracts will be granted to International GT Series’ sanctioned by the FIA and only GT category cars homologated by the FIA will be permitted to compete in these Series. Marketing, communication and sporting support will be provided to each Promoter.

    SECRETARY GENERAL FOR SPORT

    FIA President Jean Todt led a motion of thanks and sincere appreciation to Pierre de Coninck, Secretary General for Sport for the past 32 years, who has requested to step down from his duties as of 31 January. Pierre de Coninck will continue to bring his invaluable expertise to the development of the FIA as Adviser to the President.

    The members of the WMSC approved the recruitment of Jean-Louis Valentin, as proposed by the FIA President and FIA Deputy President for Sport, Graham Stoker, starting from 1 February 2014.

    ends

  • Williams reveals first image of Williams Mercedes FW36

    Grove (UK), 23 Jan 2014: Williams today released the first images of its 2014 challenger: the Williams Mercedes FW36. The FW36 is one of the most technologically advanced Formula One cars produced by Williams. It is the culmination of more than two years research and development by the team’s technical departments in Grove and it incorporates the power unit from the team’s new partner, Mercedes-Benz, a release said.

    “There’s a lot more technology on the cars this year,” says Williams Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds. “We’ve had turbo-charged engines in F1 before; what’s different this time is that it is much more than just an engine change, it is a completely different system. We’ve gone from a slightly hybridised normally aspirated engine to a fully integrated hybrid power unit with novel technology at its heart.”

    To meet the challenges of the new power unit, Williams signed the deal with Mercedes Benz High Performance Powertrains midway through last season. The team received the first CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data for the power unit at the end of May, at which point the detailed design of the FW36 could begin to be finalised.

    “This is the first time that Williams has worked with Mercedes in F1 and we’ve been very impressed,” says Symonds. “Their professionalism and commitment have been notable and we’re as confident as we can be that the power unit will be competitive.”

    The design phase of the FW36 was completed by mid-September, by which time the team had found solutions to the major challenges presented by the regulations. Cooling, weight, a new gearbox and aerodynamic changes are just some of the areas of focus.

    “Overall the cars will need more cooling this year,” says Symonds. “The demands on water and oil cooling may be slightly diminished, but the ERS system is significantly more powerful and hence needs more cooling. We also have to cool the charge air from the turbocharger compressor which requires a substantial intercooler.”

    The FW36’s gearbox ran on the dyno for the first time at the beginning of November, before running with the full power unit several weeks later. It’s the first eight-speed gearbox in Williams’ history.

    “We finished the gearbox relatively early,” says Symonds. “It’s completed a lot of running on the test rig and at Mercedes HPP in Brixworth, but you can’t take reliability for granted. It’s a completely new ‘box and it has to cope with a lot more torque than was the case with the V8.”

    The weight of the car, when combined with the FIA’s ever more stringent crash tests, has been another challenge of the 2014 rules. But the FW36 was one of the first cars to pass its crash tests prior to Christmas.

    “The build of the new car has gone remarkably smoothly,” says Symonds. “But it’s been a challenge to get the car down to the weight limit. It’s been achievable, but it hasn’t been easy because the new power unit is heavier than the outgoing V8.”

    The launch-spec aerodynamic package was finalised in the first week of December, with an upgrade package for Melbourne’s season-opener signed off in early January.

    “F1 is still going to be an aerodynamic formula in 2014,” says Symonds. “There are some significant changes: the nose is lower than last year and the front wing is narrower, which means the end plates are now more shrouded by the front tyre. The rear wing isn’t as deep as last year and the beam wing below it is no longer permitted, and we’ve also lost the ability to use the exhaust to enhance aero performance.”

    Until the car begins testing next week the team won’t know how its design solutions will translate onto the track, but Symonds is confident that Williams has done enough to move up the grid after a disappointing 2013 season.

    “I’m confident that we’ll be closer to the front aerodynamically than we were last year,” says Symonds. “Our ambition for the year ahead is to have a strong 2014 season.”

    Photo by Williams F1 team
    Photo by Williams F1 team

    Ends

  • McLaren Mercedes announce renewed partnership with Santander

    Woking, (Surrey, UK), 23 Jan 2014: McLaren Mercedes today announced that Santander, the largest bank in the eurozone and one of the biggest banks in the world, has renewed its long term corporate partnership with the team.

    Since 2007, Santander and McLaren Mercedes have formed one of the most successful partnerships in Formula 1.  McLaren has played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Santander brand in the UK and with ground breaking initiatives, such as the 2012 London Grand Prix campaign, the partnership has delivered a consistent, demonstrable impact. 

    For the past four years Jenson Button has also been a key ambassador for the company, fronting major marketing campaigns, staff engagement initiatives and playing a central role in Santander’s global University’s Scholarship Programme. 

    Jenson Button will continue to play a significant role in Santander campaigns as the partnership progresses.

    Meanwhile, Norton Rose Fulbright has entered into an innovative corporate partnership with the McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team and has been appointed as the global legal advisor to the McLaren Group.

    Keith Moor, Chief Marketing Officer, Santander said: “Santander and McLaren have formed a long term partnership and together we have set new standards in sports marketing.  Our decision to renew that relationship is not something that we have taken lightly, but it is based upon a proven track record of achievement and we are pleased to continue to be in partnership with one of the most iconic brands in global sport.”

    Ekrem Sami, Managing Director of McLaren Marketing said: “Once again, a global blue chip brand has chosen to partner with McLaren Mercedes.  We are delighted to be able to continue our extremely productive relationship with Santander, a company that has supported us for a number of years and has committed to be part of our exciting future.  In such a competitive international sponsorship market, the fact that such a prestigious company has chosen to partner with McLaren Mercedes is a reflection of the strength of our brand, our proven track record of delivery and the power of Formula 1 to reach an avid, affluent and influential audience.”

    McLaren Mercedes’ roster of sponsors remains the envy of Formula 1, with some of the longest and most established partnerships in sport. For example, Hugo Boss has been with the team for 33 years, Tag Heuer for 29 years, Mobil 1 for 20 years and SAP for 16 years. These have been joined by leading global corporations including GSK, Johnnie Walker, Hilton and AkzoNobel.

    Santander logo McLarenNote on Santander and McLaren:

    Santander UK plc is a full-service retail and commercial bank providing services to some 15 million active customers, with almost 1,200 branches and 37 regional Corporate Business Centres.  It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander SA. Santander UK plc manages its affairs autonomously with its own local management team responsible for its performance. Santander UK is firmly focused on the UK with c. 98% of customer assets UK-related and c. 80% of customer loans consisting of prime residential mortgages to UK customers. The total balance sheet remains UK focused, with a minimal net exposure after collateral to eurozone periphery countries only amounting to c. 0.6% of total assets. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK. Santander UK plc customers are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the UK.

    Banco Santander (SAN.MC, STD.N, BNC.LN) is a retail and commercial bank, based in Spain, with a presence in 10 main markets. Santander is the largest bank in the euro zone by market capitalization. Founded in 1857, Santander had EUR 1.342 trillion in managed funds, 102 million customers, 14,680 branches – more than any other international bank – and 186,785 employees at the close of June 2013. It is the largest financial group in Spain and Latin America. It also has significant positions in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany, Poland and the northeast United States. In the first half of 2013, Santander registered EUR 2,255 million in attributable profit, an increase of 29% from the same period of the previous year.

    McLaren

    McLaren Group is an organisation with one goal: to win.

    McLaren Group is a dynamic group of high technology companies, whose rapid growth is built on the shared principles of innovation, creativity and commitment to excellence. It comprises McLaren Racing, McLaren Automotive and McLaren Applied Technologies.

    McLaren Racing entered its first Formula 1 race in 1966 and won its first Grand Prix at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium in 1968. More than 40 years and 182 Grand Prix victories later, McLaren is still renowned as one of the sport’s most successful competitors and as one of the world’s most illustrious high-technology brands.

    McLaren Applied Technologies is one of McLaren Group’s most diverse and fast-moving businesses and has a mission to achieve breakthroughs in performance using advanced technology and design.  With expertise in modelling, simulation, design engineering and human high performance, their expertise covers markets including sport, energy, healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

    McLaren Group is committed to sustainability. Continuous innovation and careful environmental management has enabled McLaren Mercedes to be the first Formula 1 team to retain the Carbon Trust Standard and to be declared ‘carbon neutral’.

    ends

  • Sahara Force India presents a fresh new look for 2014

    Silverstone, 22 Jan 2014: Sahara Force India revealed its dynamic new look today, offering fans and media a first impression of how the VJM07 will look when it is officially presented at next week’s Jerez test session.
    The new livery brings a fresh trackside image for the team with the introduction of black alongside the traditional colours of saffron, white and green.
    “The VJM07 looks stunning and the new livery reflects the way Sahara Force India is evolving,” says Vijay Mallya. “I’ve always believed our cars have been the most eye-catching, but adding black as a main colour gives us a fierce new look.”
    Key to the new look is the introduction of several commercial partners. The logo of telecommunications brand, Claro, appears on the engine cover and signals the start of a multi-year deal with the famous Mexican brand. There will be prominent Claro branding on the drivers’ suits and team kit.
    The rear wing end plate now includes branding from Roshfrans, the lubricant oils specialists, following last week’s announcement of a multi-year partnership with the team.
    The new livery also sees branding from Astana, a foundation that supports sporting initiatives by promoting the capital city of Kazakhstan. The Astana logo is positioned on the side of the VJM07’s nose.
     “It’s been a busy winter for us on the technical and commercial front,” explains Vijay. “When I founded the team my first ambition was to launch the first Indian team on the grid, but the next stage in our evolution is to develop a global brand. I think that ambition is reflected in the partners we are working with and our world class driver line-up. It certainly feels as though there is the potential for 2014 to be our strongest season yet.”
    As well as new colours, the changes beneath the skin of the VJM07 are even more extensive due to the new technical regulations. “The new rules have presented us with a huge challenge, but I’m very proud of the approach we have taken and the direction of the technical team,” says Vijay. “It will be fascinating to see how different teams have interpreted the rules and at this stage it’s impossible to predict who has done the best job.”
    Technical Director, Andrew Green, is quick to emphasise just how different the VJM07 is compared to its predecessor: “Almost every single part is a new design, from the front wing right back to the diffuser. The genetics of the VJM07 still lie in the 2013 car, but we’ve had to achieve the same results in a slightly different way.”
    Andrew says accommodating the power unit was the biggest challenge: “It’s been a massive job to accommodate all the changes to the power unit – it’s the biggest change I’ve witnessed in the sport since I started in 1990. Cooling has been the biggest challenge with most of last summer taken up trying to understand the cooling requirements of the power unit, and how best to optimise it in the chassis.”
    ends

    Sahara Force India reveals a photo of its new car. Photo by Sahara Force India F1 team
    Sahara Force India reveals a photo of its new car. Photo by Sahara Force India F1 team

  • Paul Di Resta back in the Mercedes-Benz DTM cockpit

    Bangalore, 21 Jan 2014: The champion of 2010 returns to DTM. In 2014, Paul Di Resta will be part of the Mercedes-Benz DTM team. The Scotsman is preparing his comeback test driving the Mercedes AMG DTM C-Coupé.

    Paul di Resta, lost the seat at the Sahara Force India after the 2013 season despite doing well and failed to get a seat from any other team. With virtually all driver slots filled, Di Resta is back to DTM cockpit, as per news2use.tv.

    ends

    Paul di Resta moves to DTM A photo by news2use.tv
    Paul di Resta moves to DTM A photo by news2use.tv

     

  • Caterham confirm Kobayashi and Ericsson as F1 drivers for 2014

    Leafield (UK), 21 Jan 2014: Caterham F1 Team and Caterham Racing have confirmed their 2014 driver line-ups with the announcement that Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson will race in Formula One in the forthcoming season with Robin Frijns and Alexander Rossi as F1 team Reserve Drivers. In addition, Alexander and Rio Haryanto will contest the 2014 GP2 honours with Caterham Racing, a press release said.

    Kobayashi joins the UK based team after one season out of F1, rejoining the sport as it heads towards a new era in F1 history with all-new rules for the season ahead. The popular Japanese driver joins F1 rookie Marcus Ericsson in an exciting, dynamic line-up that will push the team to achieve its targets throughout the season ahead whilst giving, for the second year running, an opportunity for a leading GP2 driver to make the step up to F1, demonstrating the logic of Caterham’s direct involvement in that F1 feeder Championship. Supporting them at all GP2 race weekends as Reserve Driver will be Robin Frijns, one of motorsport’s most highly rated young drivers.

    Alexander Rossi renews his GP2 challenge with Caterham Racing and, after finishing the 2013 season as best rookie, he will start the new season as a serious championship contender. He will combine his GP2 commitments with another year as a Reserve Driver for Caterham F1 Team at all non-GP2 race wekeends, continuing his development towards an ultimate race drive in Formula One. Alexander is joined by Rio Haryanto, the Indonesian driver who has progressed in GP2 since his first season in the series in 2012 and who, with Alexander, makes one of the strongest driver pairings in the championship.

    Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal and CEO, Caterham F1 Team: “I’m very pleased we can finally unveil our F1 and GP2 drivers for the year ahead. The process may have taken longer than we’d have liked, but we didn’t want or need to be rushed into such important decisions and we have been in the happy position of having a wide range of drivers to choose from for both series. I believe that we have exciting, dynamic talents in both F1 and GP2 and I know just how excited everyone in the F1 team and Caterham Racing are about working with all five drivers.

    “In F1, I’m delighted that we’ve been able to bring Kamui back.  He is a very popular driver and it’s very good for the whole team we’ve been able to attract such an exciting driver to join us at a critical point in our development. His pace speaks for itself, and his extensive experience of developing cars, particularly in his years with Toyota, will be incredibly important for us as we tackle one of the most challenging seasons F1 has ever embarked upon.

    “Alongside him is Marcus who will be racing in his debut F1 season in 2014, but as a driver who has prepared perfectly for the step up to F1 with his graduation through the ranks. He started his single-seat career by winning Formula BMW UK in 2007 and rose through the ranks to GP2 where, last year, he won in Germany, scored two poles, three fastest laps and five podiums. He’s physically and mentally prepared for what lies ahead, and he will have all the support we can give him across the team to help him fulfil his obvious potential in Formula One.

    “Robin is another new addition to our driver roster and he comes to us as one of the most highly rated talents around – just look at how he dominated the two Renault-backed series he competed in during the 2012 and 2013 seasons for clear evidence of that. He won Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 in 2011, recording five wins that year, and then he won Formula Renault 3.5 in 2012, putting three more victories on the board. He has raw pace and impressed our engineers enormously with the sessions he’s completed in our simulator – put simply, he has the talent to go right to the top of our sport. He will be our Reserve at all races where Alexander is focused on GP2 and he will have a number of F1 runs throughout the year, immersing him in the F1 team and helping him develop his understanding of what it takes to operate at the top level.

    “In GP2 we want to be competing for race wins and titles from the first race. Alexander showed last year that he’s ready to make a push for the championship, and we’re continuing his F1 development in 2014 by combining his GP2 commitments with another year as an F1 team Reserve Driver. I firmly believe he has the talent to achieve the ambitious targets we are setting him and I’m excited about seeing him fulfil his potential in GP2 this year. Rio joins the team with two years of GP2 already under his belt and he and Alexander make a formidable pairing – we’re all excited about seeing them and the team add to Caterham Racing’s already crowded trophy cabinet and use that as a benchmark for the F1 team!

    “By any measure, we have an exciting range of drivers across F1 and GP2 who will make headlines for both teams throughout the year – sometimes because they’re pushing a bit too hard, but, on balance, that’s what motor racing needs. Our F1 team will benefit enormously from having Kamui and Marcus spearhead our challenge in 2014 – they provide powerful motivation for us to renew our efforts to succeed throughout the season ahead and demonstrate that our shareholders and senior management know what it takes to progress. Overall, I’m pleased that we’re able to give all five of the drivers we’ll work with in F1 and GP2 the platform to show what they can do on a global stage and I’m excited about seeing all of them develop in green throughout the year ahead.”

    Caterham F1 Team
    Kamui Kobayashi: “It’s a great feeling to be back as an F1 race driver and I’m really pleased it’s with Caterham F1 Team. We’ve been talking to Cyril and Tony since last year about driving for the team for 2014 and beyond and throughout all our discussions I’ve been very impressed with where they want to take the team, and how much investment has been made already to help them achieve their goals. For me, it’s a great honour that the team hired me based on the value I bring in racing terms, and the experience I have and I am so happy that I am able to make this announcement today.  I will do my very best to lead the team and work as hard as possible to achieve our targets.

    “I also want to give special thanks to all the fans who have made donations to KAMUI SUPPORT. Their donations and gestures gave me extra strength to come back fighting and I am very pleased that the money they raised not only helped me but will now go to helping Caterham progress this year. Every single one of you who helped with KAMUI SUPPORT will race with me in 2014 and that makes me very proud.”

    “I first visited the factory in Leafield just before Christmas and it’s clear how hungry the whole team is to make progress. Last year was a tough season but the new rules this year mean that everyone in F1 is starting again and that means everybody has a chance to improve. From what I’ve seen, Caterham now has everything in place to progress this year and for many seasons to come. We’re all realistic about what we can actually achieve this year, and until we’ve run the car properly at the tests it’s still too early to see where we are compared to the other teams, but whatever happens we have to move forwards this year.  For me, it’s a chance to start again with a new team but one that’s serious about progressing, and for the team, 2014 is the first chance to show what they can do with all the people and infrastructure they’ve built up in Leafield since moving there in 2012.

    “I can’t wait to start work again, and one of the benefits to making this announcement so close to the start of the tests means I only have a few days to wait to get back on track! Before then I’ll be at the factory as much as possible, working in the simulator and with everyone there to prepare as much as we can for the tests in Jerez and Bahrain. Physically and mentally I’m fully prepared, now I just want to get back to work!”

    Marcus Ericsson: “This is a very proud day for me and everyone who has helped make my F1 dream come true. I’ll be making the step up to F1 with Caterham F1 Team in 2014 and I’m already excited about the season ahead, and the first race in Australia in particular.

    “It’s obviously great for Sweden that we’ll have a Swedish driver back on the grid in 2014. This is what I’ve been working for since I first started racing karts back when I was nine years old, and now I know I’m ready for the step up to F1. Caterham is a young team and together we can take on the challenges the new rules will present in 2014 – learning together and continuing to develop as the season progresses.

    “After a good break at home over Christmas, the hard work has already started. My physical fitness has always been good but I’ve been working even more on that since the discussions with Caterham began, and I’m going to be in the factory in Leafield as much as I can before and during the tests in Spain and Bahrain so I can play an active role in helping understand the 2014 car, and what we need to do to unlock its performance. We have a big task in front of us but it’s an exciting one, and one both the team and I are ready for.”

    Robin Frijns: “I am more than happy that Caterham and Renault have given me the chance to be in Formula One in 2014. Nowadays it’s rare to find an F1 team that will put so much trust in a young driver like me, but during the negotiations I had a very strong feeling that the team really believes in me, which I couldn’t appreciate more! This was one of the main reasons why Caterham has been my number one priority for quite a while and I am so thankful that it worked out.

    “There are many good reasons to believe that Caterham will be moving up the grid in the next few years and I feel that every member of the team is strongly committed and really working hard to make that happen. Also, when I visited the factory for the first time, I saw that the working atmosphere in Leafield is very positive, which gave me a good feeling right away. My personal goal for this season is to help the team as much I can and also gain valuable experience to make sure that I can establish myself in the team and in F1. I am sure that we will have many great years together.”

    EQ8 Caterham Racing

    Alexander Rossi: “I am pleased to be back with Caterham Racing for 2014 fighting for a GP2 Championship. My 2013 program had some changes which meant I missed the pre-season tests and a couple of the early GP2 races, however, throughout the season the team and I made some big progress and by Abu Dhabi we were definitely one of the cars to beat. This continued in the post-season tests and I’m quite confident about the pace in 2014.

    “As returning Caterham F1 Team Reserve Driver my duties will continue with F1 outings, my role as simulator driver and on track Reserve for non-GP2 weekends. This is the perfect development for my future F1 race drive as I play an important role in assisting the team develop its 2014 car, something that will be particularly important this year with the current technical changes.

    “I have to thank everyone involved at Caterham and Team Rossi for making this happen. We have a fantastic chance to win the GP2 title in 2014, while the F1 team achieves its goals of moving forward. This is an important era for all of us, as the sport enters a new generation. What a great way to start 2014!”

    Rio Haryanto: “It is a great feeling to sign with Caterham Racing for my 2014 GP2 campaign. After such a successful post season test with the team in Abu Dhabi and the possible Formula One opportunities, this was the obvious choice for me. The team atmosphere immediately filled me with confidence and I am sure that this new chapter, with a new team is going to bring success.

    “I am also looking forward teaming up with Alexander Rossi. We are both strong Championship contenders and with our GP2 experience, we will work together to fight for both the team and driver Championships.

    “My ultimate goal is to finish the season as high as possible in the 2014 GP2 Championship and give myself the best possible chance of a full time Formula One seat in 2015.”

    Mia Sharizman, EQ8 Caterham Racing Team PrincipaI: “I am delighted to announce that Alexander will continue with us into 2014, and that Rio is joining our team. This announcement also means that we can focus on our 2014 preparations much earlier than we have been able to in previous years. Our team has undergone a number of changes since the end of the 2013 season which we believe gives us the capability to have our best season to date, and to build on our previous Championship results.

    “Our plan for Alexander in 2014 is part of a two year GP2 programme. After finishing 2013 as top rookie it is now time for him to mount a challenge for the Championship, and with the experience he has gained and the increased support he will have in 2014, I believe that the Championship is a realistic target.

    “Racing alongside Alexander will be Rio Haryanto. Having Rio joining the Caterham family is the result of a lot of hard work over the last two years, in which time we have seen Rio develop into one of the most promising Asian racing drivers in the world. His experience in GP2 will help the team develop further and having two strong, consistent and quick race drivers will help us achieve our goals. Rio is a determined young man and he returns to GP2 with the aim of being a strong Championship contender alongside his teammate.”

    Ends

  • Nico Hulkenberg gets No.27, the number popularised by Villeneuve

    Paris, 10 May 2014: The FIA has released the drivers’ permanent numbers. Nico Hulkenberg of Force India will have the No.27 that was popularised by famous driver of yesteryears Gilles Villeneuve and his teammate Sergio Perez will have No.11.

    World champion Sebastian Vettel will have No.1 this year and as long as he is champion and later switch to No.5 which he chose. The supposed to be unluFIA logo1cky 13 is back with Pastor Maldonado opting for it.

    Please find below the official entry list to the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship:

    Choosen Race N°

    Driver’s Name

    Company Name

    Team Name

    Name of the Chassis

    Name of the Engine

    1 *

    		 Sebastian VETTEL (DEU) RED BULL RACING (AUT) Infiniti Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing Renault

    3

    		 Daniel RICCIARDO (AUS) RED BULL RACING(AUT) Infiniti Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing Renault

    44

    		 Lewis HAMILTON  (GBR) MERCEDES-BENZ GRAND PRIX LTD (DEU) Mercedes Gp Petronas Formula One Mercedes Mercedes

    6

    		 Nico ROSBERG (DEU) MERCEDES-BENZ GRAND PRIX LTD (DEU) Mercedes Gp Petronas Formula One Mercedes Mercedes

    14

    		 Fernando ALONSO (ESP) FERRARI SpA (ITA) Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari

    7

    		 Kimi RAIKKONEN (FIN) FERRARI SpA  (ITA) Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari

    8

    		 Romain GROSJEAN (FRA) LOTUS RENAULT F1 LTD (GBR)** Lotus F1 Team Lotus Renault

    13

    		 Pastor  MALDONADO (VEN) LOTUS RENAULT F1 LTD (GBR)** Lotus F1 Team Lotus Renault

    22

    		 Jenson BUTTON (GBR) VODAFONE MCLAREN RACING LTD (GBR) McLaren Mercedes McLaren Mercedes

    20

    		 Kevin MAGNUSSEN (DEN) VODAFONE MCLAREN RACING LTD (GBR) McLaren Mercedes McLaren Mercedes

    27

    		 Nico HULKENBERG (DEU) FORCE INDIA FORMULA 1 TEAM LTD (IND) Sahara Force India F1 Team Force India Mercedes

    11

    		 Sergio PEREZ MENDOZA (MEX) FORCE INDIA FORMULA 1 TEAM LTD(IND) Sahara Force India F1 Team Force India Mercedes

    99

    		 Adrian SUTIL (DEU) SAUBER MOTORSPORT AG (CHE) Sauber F1 Team Sauber Ferrari

    21

    		 Esteban GUTIERREZ (MEX) SAUBER MOTORSPORT AG (CHE) Sauber F1 Team Sauber Ferrari

    25

    		 Jean-Eric VERGNE (FRA) SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO SPA (ITA) Scuderia Toro Rosso Scuderia Toro Rosso Renault

    26

    		 Daniil KVYAT (RUS) SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO SPA (ITA) Scuderia Toro Rosso Scuderia Toro Rosso Renault

    19

    		 Felipe MASSA (BRA) WILLIAMS GD PRIX ENGINEERING LTD (GBR) Williams Team F1 Williams Mercedes

    77

    		 Valtteri BOTTAS (FIN) WILLIAMS GD PRIX ENGINEERING LTD (GBR) Williams Team F1 Williams Mercedes

    17

    		 Jules BIANCHI (FRA) MANOR GRAND PRIX RACING LTD (RUS)** Marussia F1 Team Marussia Ferrari

    TBA

    		 Max CHILTON (GBR) MANOR GRAND PRIX RACING LTD (RUS)** Marussia F1 Team Marussia Ferrari
    TBA 1MALAYSIA RACING TEAM SDN BHD Caterham F1 Team Caterham Renault
    TBA 1MALAYSIA RACING TEAM SDN BHD Caterham F1 Team Caterham Renault

     

    * For the duration of his F1 career, Sebastian Vettel chose N°5

    ** Subject to confirmation

  • Sahara Force India forges technical partnership with Motegi Racing

    Sahara Force India is delighted to announce the beginning of a new technical partnership with Motegi Racing, the high performance wheel brand.
    The new partnership will see the team’s 2014 car fitted with wheels carrying the iconic Motegi Racing brand. Sahara Force India will also benefit from Motegi Racing’s knowledge in wheel technology to help drive forward performance.
    Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer: “I’m very happy to announce our partnership with Motegi Racing. 2014 is a landmark year for Formula One with so many changes to the regulations and in order to be competitive we have to focus on developing all areas of the car. It gives me great confidence to have the expertise and experience of Motegi Racing supporting us at such an important time. Our technical team will be working very closely with them to enhance the performance of our wheels.”
    Jody Groce, President Wheel Pros LLC: “We are very excited about the partnership with Sahara Force India as part of our growth at the highest level of global motorsports. This is a milestone achievement for our company as we prepare to supply our Motegi Racing wheels to compete at the pinnacle of racing technology in Formula One. It’s an interesting time to be involved in Formula One and we are honoured to become Sahara Force India’s technical wheel partner as the sport prepares for one of the most significant technical transformations in its history. This program provides the perfect technical platform to communicate the continuous evolution of the Motegi Racing brand. Motorsport is a proving ground for our technology to hone the performance authenticity of our brand.”
    About Motegi Racing
    Through technical partnerships with leading professional racing teams, Motegi Racing competition and high performance tuning wheels are designed and engineered for performance. Motegi Racing is a Wheel Pros brand. Wheel Pros products are sold worldwide in more than 20 countries on four continents and through a U.S. Network of more than 10,000 active dealers. It is one of the world’s largest suppliers of branded custom wheels, performance tires and related accessories for cars, SUVs and light trucks. For more details visitwww.motegiracing.com
    About Sahara Force India Formula One Team
    Sahara Force India Formula One 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 now 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
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