Monday, 29 April 2013
Friday, 26 April 2013
Lewis Hamilton No1 AMG Mercedes Petronas Vow
That is the message coming from his team Mercedes, who have revealed they are about to switch more than half their workforce on to their 2014 Formula One car.
F1 teams are facing massive rule changes next season as the current V8 engines are replaced by 1.6 litre V6 turbos, which in turn will prompt a fundamental re-think on chassis design and aerodynamics.
And though Merc insist they will not abandon this year’s championship challenge, they look set to have more than one eye on the future.
Team chief Toto Wolff said: “We’re already working on 2014 and we’ll gradually raise the percentage of people working on next year’s car.
“I would say that in May we will reach a point where more than 50 per cent will work on the 2014 car.”
Wolff believes most teams will gradually follow Merc’s example.
He said: “There is no doubt that at a point in the summer everybody will switch their main resources to the 2014 car as this is a very complex machine.
“It all depends where you are in the standings. Those fighting for the title will of course concentrate longer on this year’s car.”
Wolff was adamant Mercedes’ decision did not mean they are waving the white flag already this season.
He said: “I want to be among the four top teams in the constructors’ championship and have a driver among the top four as well.”
Source: TheSun UK
Monday, 22 April 2013
Sunday, 21 April 2013
Saturday, 20 April 2013
Friday, 19 April 2013
Lewis Hamilton Chinese Podium
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| Lewis Hamilton |
It was a good race for me today and whilst I would have loved the win, I'm really happy with third place and being on the podium for the second race in a row. The guys did a great job this weekend to get us where we were; on pole and finishing third.
Lewis Hamilton Backs Ross Brawn To Go The Distance With Mercedes
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| Ross Brawn |
There is an imposing presence about the Mercedes team principal, Ross Brawn, and his long shadow will be seen in the paddock for years to come if Lewis Hamilton has any say in it.
Brawn is 58 and very wealthy. But it is the number of changes within the team in recent months – McLaren's technical director, Paddy Lowe, will be joining at the end of the year – that has led to speculation that Brawn will be quitting in the near future. Mercedes, however, are resurgent this year and Hamilton, who is fourth in the championship, gives much of the credit for that to Brawn, the man behind Michael Schumacher's seven world titles.
Hamilton, who looked relaxed despite the tensions in Bahrain and the threat of a huge pro-democracy demonstration for Friday, said: "Ross has shown time and time again in his career just how good he is and how competitive he is. He's shown even though he's been in the business a long time he still has that fighting spirit and stuck it out. He has stuck out all the hard times and is now seeing it come through in a positive way."
The reassuring figure of Brawn was one of the reasons why Hamilton switched from McLaren to Mercedes at the end of last season. This is a man who knows how to deliver championships and there are signs that he is at last turning things round, just as he did at Ferrari after a few years in charge.
Hamilton added: "He's great to work with. He's created a very relaxed environment, he's very easy to approach, he communicates really well and is very hands-on with the drivers and everyone. He sits in on all the meetings. He does a fantastic job.
"I signed with him being here and I'm very happy working with him we are building a great relationship. Inevitably at some stage he'll want to stop. Who knows when that'll be? I hope it's not too soon. I hope we get to have many victories together."
Brawn has said that Sunday's race will tell the team a lot more about the capabilities of the car and Hamilton added: "Not just here but Barcelona as well. Tyre degradation is going to be a killer here. So we'll definitely get a good understanding of where we stand."
The atmosphere in the paddock was more relaxed than it was a year ago. Although there are warnings that there will be more violence in surrounding areas in the next few days the teams – so jittery in 2012 – now feel safe. At least while they are at the track.
McLaren's Jenson Button said: "I hear different things on Twitter and you cannot get away from it, but for us as a team and me as an individual, I have to believe the FIA are making the right call. We have 19 races around the world and I trust their decision not to put us in danger and it is the right thing to do.
"I did not see anything last year. It is no different from 2004 in terms of what we see when we are here.
"But I am sure that what we see and what the Bahrainis see is two very different things. We see the hotel, we drive to the circuit and we see the circuit. That's it."
The crown prince was at the circuit, anxious to reassure the non-believers. "We still have problems, but let's not politicise the race. We have had a rough time with the press," Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa said. "Our main problems in Bahrain are centred around two clear issues: civil rights and law and order. Those two things can be in opposition to one another or they can go hand in hand. We need to make sure that we bring the diverse elements of the country together to achieve a synergy. That is the real challenge."
An ITN TV crew were held and questioned at a police station in Bahrain but later released. Meanwhile, Zayed R Alzayani, the chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, has spoken out against non-peaceful demonstrators. He said: "I am totally against violence. No matter what cause you have you have no right to disrupt the normal process of life. That is not democracy, that is terrorism. There are no two ways about it."
Source : The Guardian UK
Lewis Hamilton column: Racing Has Become More Strategic
Tyres seem to be a big topic of conversation in Formula 1 at the moment, and although I'm not aware of all the complaints, I know people are questioning whether the racing is "real" or not.
In my opinion, it is "real" racing; it's just very strategic now.
When I first started in F1, you did not have to be strategic, apart from when you were trying to pass someone. You just had to go hard on the tyres and try not to lose any time. You still had to run as long as you could on the tyres, but you could push to the maximum, pretty much.
Nowadays, you can't do that - you have to manage the tyres.
Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
"I don't particularly enjoy looking after these tyres, but I like the fact that F1 changes all the time and that you have to keep learning."
Each tyre is different. There are different techniques for preparing and saving them in order to get the best out of them.
For example, a lot of the drivers are noticing that the first three laps of a stint are the most crucial for the life of a tyre. If you don't push in the first three you get more life out of them at the end.
But don't get the impression we are all effectively driving around with one arm out of the window. You still have to push, but within the boundaries you have been set.
So you try not to slide the car, and you try not to overuse the tyres.
In China, where we raced last weekend, Turns One, Eight and 13 are very hard on the left-front tyre so you have to approach them differently. You have to brake early and cruise into the corner to make the tyre last. In those corners, we are not on the edge - but in all the other corners we are.
For me, it is what it is, and I just deal with it. I don't feel it should be drastically different.
I don't particularly enjoy looking after these tyres in the way you have to - by being soft on the throttle, not pushing in certain corners, doing late downshifts, lifting and coasting - but I like the fact that F1 changes all the time and that you have to keep learning.
Driving standards
Sergio Perez
On Sergio Perez's driving: "I think the driving standards haven't been too bad this year. I don't have a particular problem with anyone."
If you were watching the Chinese Grand Prix on television, you may have heard Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and me having a bit of a chat in the room before we went out onto the podium.
We made a couple of references to McLaren's Sergio Perez and the way he was driving. Kimi had an incident with him that damaged his front wing and cost him some performance.
I didn't have much of an opinion about Perez's driving because I didn't see too much of it - certainly not the incident with Kimi.
I do remember seeing, in the distance, Fernando trying to get past a car and that it was weaving from one side of the track to the other. I was surprised at the time that the driver - which I now know was Perez - wasn't penalised.
The problem is that there is such a fine line between dicing and going too far. The stewards do a really good job - and they don't want to take away racing.
I've experienced that in karting. The clerk of the course wanted to ruin everyone's weekend and it took the fun away from racing. You don't want that but you do want consistency in rules. But it is so difficult to be consistent because every situation is different.
Young drivers are definitely the ones who have the most to learn, but I think the driving standards haven't been too bad this year. I don't have a particular problem with anyone.
Your questions
What is the favourite F1 car you have driven?
Jimbo's F1 @JamesHayter447m
"The one I'm driving right now. I have always needed a car with good rear grip. I don't mind if I have to struggle with the front because you can catch that up. But I've always wanted to make sure I have plenty of rear grip and I've rarely had that before. Now, I've finally got a 'rear-ended' car and it's driving into understeer, and you have to work around it with mechanical balance.
Jamie Foxx
"Jamie Foxx [could play me in a movie]. He would be awesome. I watched him in Django Unchained. Sick movie."
"I know people have this impression of me as a driver who likes to dance the rear end out, but that's just the way my cars have been. I'm quite comfortable being on the edge and having to balance it when it looks 'oversteery'.
"That's what I had to do with my aggressive style to get the car as far up as possible. Driving in that way enables me to make that kind of car shine more than it would do if I drove it normally. But I prefer the car like the Mercedes is now."
If a movie was made about your life and career, which actor would you want to play you?
Adam Perkins @f1perky1h
"Probably Jamie Foxx. He would be awesome. He's one of the best actors around at the moment. I watched him in Django Unchained recently. Sick movie."
Is there a circuit currently not on the calendar you'd like to have as part of the season?
Beth @beth_f11h
"I love the Nurburgring Nordschleife. That is hardcore. I would love to take an F1 car around there. And Macau. That is the coolest street circuit in the world. For me, it beats Monaco, and I love Monaco. It's twice the length of Monaco and it's such a challenge to keep your mind focused over such a long lap."
Has Nico pulled any pranks on you yet like he used to when you were team-mates in karting?
Ivkiran Kaur @skyywalker_x1h
"No, it's a lot different nowadays. When we were in karting, we used to spend so much time together. We shared a hotel room because of budget. We travelled around together. We would do sneaky little things without each other knowing. It got us in trouble with our parents. It was funny all round.
"Now, it's just so focused. We don't have time to play. And as a driver, I want Nico to be at his best because when I finish ahead of him it's better that way. I would never want to distract him and him be on his back foot and then beat him. When you beat the person at their best, that's when you can feel the most satisfied."
Even though you've been around Mercedes all your life nearly, what other road cars do you like?
Taras Dhedhi @Krustylicious1h
Pagani Zonda
"I have a Pagani Zonda. That's the favourite car I have. But I'm really into old classics now."
"I have a Pagani Zonda, which has a Mercedes engine in the back. That's the favourite car I have. But I'm really into old classics now.
"I'm looking at an Aston Martin DB5, which is something I have always wanted. I have a nice old 1965 AC Cobra. Such a great car. I have a Shelby GT 500, which is the Gone In 60 Seconds car.
"I also have a Mercedes SL65 Black series. I've had that since 2009 or '10 and it only has 200km on it. It's a special car for me and I don't want to put much mileage on it. I don't drive a lot."
Name one driver currently racing in F1 that inspires you in some way?
Rashi @HAMazingLew1h
"Fernando, really. He feels to me like he's the most complete driver here. And with pure speed, he is rapid. He is such a quick driver but he's also very, very smart in how he does it. I really admire him for that.
Fernando Alonso (left) with Lewis Hamilton
"[Fernando Alonso] is such a quick driver but he's also very, very smart in how he does it. I really admire him for that."
"Fernando is always there. He has been the most consistent driver apart from Sebastian, who has also done an awesome job but he's been in the most dominant car.
"Before I got into F1, Fernando was the driver I most admired. Having driven alongside him and then been in the sport and seen him progress, it remains the same.
"Back in 2007, we were both immature and misbehaved. We took a long time to recover from that. Fernando probably said a lot of things through anger, as I did, and that got twisted and turned in the media which impacted on the fans. So there are people who don't like me and people who don't like him.
"He will go down as a legend. He will win more world championships. And to be in an era when there's a legend and to have him say such positive things about me, is a really cool feeling."
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