On this day in F1 – 22 May, brought to you by TheJudge13 chronicler BlackJack’sBriefs
1455 – The first battle in the 30-year War of Roses took place at St. Albans, England…
1570 – First atlas, with 70 maps, was published…
1819- First steam-propelled vessel crossed the Atlantic (Savannah leaves Ga)…
1840 – The transporting of British convicts to the New South Wales colony was abolished…
1843 – First wagon train, of 1000 people, departed Independence Missouri for Oregon…
1891 – The first public motion picture was given in Thomas Edison’s lab…
1892 – British doctor, Washington Sheffield, invented the toothpaste tube…
1897 – The Blackwall Tunnel under the River Thames was officially opened…
1906 – Wright Brothers patented a ‘flying machine’
1933 – Loch Ness Monster was first reportedly sighted by John Mackay…
1943 – First jet fighter was tested…
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. . . and, in 1955…
Louis Chiron
Louis Chiron, born in Monaco in 1899, was the oldest driver to compete and finish, in 6th place, in a Grand Prix, just before his 56th birthday. Although his final full season was in 1951 he reappeared for half the 1953 season before making a ‘guest‘ appearance at Monaco in 1955 He also entered at Monaco in 1956, and in 1958, but didn’t start either event… and subsequently joined the organising team of the Monaco GP.
1928 Rome GP
In a 34-year career (1925-1958) Chiron won 22 GP, mostly in the late 20’s and early 30’s but also the French GP in 1947 and 1949. At 50, does this make him the oldest GP winner…? [Answers on a postcard.]
In 1933 he teamed with Luigi Chinetti to win the Spa 24hrs. and also drove a Delage to 7th in the 1929 Indy 500… and also won the 1954 Monte Carlo Rally…
In 1999, twenty years after Chiron’s death, Bugatti created a theme-car in his honour – the Bugatti 18/3 Chiron.
Bugatti 18/3 Chiron
After WWI Chiron, always short on cash, turned to wealthy women to finance his desired lifestyle meeting his benefactresses in the dance halls of Monaco and Nice, where they were literally standing in line to tango with the elegant and extremely handsome chauffeur/dancer. Thus did the unsuspecting husband of his long- time lover Alice “Baby” Hoffmann become one of his key financiers.
Women had always been responsible for the most significant developments in Chiron’s life, and his success with the fairer sex can be attributed to a Russian noblewoman who financed his private school education, music lessons, and courses in etiquette, thus providing the necessary training for him to become a true lady’s man.
A bit different to Kobayashi raising sponsorship on the internet…
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Meanwhile… This Day in 1958
. . . while Louis Chiron was making his last appearance at a GP… arriving in the United Kingdom was one of the biggest figures in rock and roll. Nowhere in the world were the teenage fans of the raucous music coming from America more enthusiastic than in England, and the tour of the great Jerry Lee Lewis promised to be a rousing success.
“Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls Of Fire” had been massive hits in the UK, and 27 appearances were booked for the biggest tour yet by an American rock-and-roll star. There was just one problem: Jerry Lee traveled to England with his new young wife in tow.
An inquisitive reporter enquired as to the identity of the very young woman. “I’m Myra, Jerry’s wife,” – “And how old is Myra?” at which point Jerry Lee, realising the rest of the world might take a somewhat skeptical view of his third marriage, gave the answer, “Fifteen,” which was a lie.
Myra Gail Lewis was actually only 13 years old… and was also Jerry Lee’s first cousin… but the pair had married five months before his divorce from his second wife was made official. Jerry Lee tried to set minds at ease on this last point, saying the second marriage was null and void because it had taken place before his divorce from his first wife was finalised… but even the most skilled public-relations expert would have had difficulty spinning the unfolding story in Jerry Lee’s favor.
The press and public hounded Mr & Mrs Lewis, their fashionable Mayfair hotel encouraged them to seek lodgings elsewhere, and they left England less than a week after their dramatic arrival – on this day, in 1958.
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. . . and thence to 1961…
when John F Kennedy was sworn in as US president…
the first revolving restaurant (Top Of The Needle, in Seattle), opened… a chimp returned safely from a space flight…
five Britons were accused of spying for Moscow…
the Nazi war crimes trials began…
a victorious Castro banned elections… and 1,500 Cuban exiles, with the CIA, invaded the “Bay of Pigs” – 118 were killed and 1,202 were captured by Cuban forces… and later offered, in exchange for 500 bulldozers…
Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, after orbiting the planet… followed, a few weeks later, by the first US astronaut, Shepard, who just left the Earth’s atmosphere – and came straight back down again…
Berliners woke to a divided city after 20% of the entire East German population had defected to West Germany…
Britain applied for membership of the EEC… and Private Eye was first published…
the birth control pill became ‘available to all’… and Pampers disposable diapers were introduced…
The farthing coin (a quarter of an ‘old’ penny), used since the 13th century, ceased to be legal tender in Britain… and black & white £5 (Sterling) notes ceased to be legal tender in Britain…
The First inflight movie was shown on TWA…
IBM introduced the Selectric typewriter ‘Golfball’…
. . . and Harold MacMillan told the British people: ‘You’ve never had it so good’…
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22nd May – 1961
Von Trips and P Hill
Taking place one week after the Monaco GP, the front row was taken up by three Ferraris. Wolfgang von Trips took the lead from the start and led every lap to the chequered flag. Phil Hill was a solid second though constantly pressured by Jim Clark, who made a great start from the fourth row. The two traded second place, with the Ferrari quicker on the straight and the Lotus faster in the corners, until about 20 laps from the end when the Ferrari pulled away.
Fourth place was also hard fought, Monaco victor Moss and Ginther, who made a bad start, battled nose-to- tail until the very end with Moss passing Ginther on the final lap when the throttle on the Ferrari stuck open and Ginther narrowly avoided an accident. It was a rather dull race but was historic as one of only three races with a full field where every car finished (the 2005 Italian Grand Prix and the 2011 European Grand Prix were the others).
But in fact, this race made history as the only F1 race ever where all the cars that started managed to finish the race without making a single pit stop.
To win in Monaco is hard because even a small error in the streets of the principality is fatal. The first Grand Prix of Monaco was won by William Grover-Williams, then followed by others great names like Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Fangio, Graham Hill.”
Further, in such times of austerity, big business has been less inclined to be seen by its shareholders to be excessive and spending time and money in one of the most famous playgrounds of the rich and famous. It is a lot less expensive and less ostentatious for them to ‘do the do’ around an F1 weekend in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpa – even China.
On TJ13 we have discussed the F1 calendar at length this year and the reality is that several of the ‘older races’ and some of the new races are asking for hosting fee discounts. Monaco pays nothing to the coffers of F1. Further, trackside advertising goes to the principality unlike all other venues where the revenue is collected by F1.
Add this to reliability being so strong, there is little chance of position changes except around the pit stop changes and strategies.
Daily F1 News and Comment: Tuesday 21st May 2013
•May 21, 2013 • 12 CommentsThis page will be updated throughout the day
Monaco GP Race Stewards
FIA WORLD COUNCIL MEMBER; HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SWEDISH AUTOMOBILE SPORT FEDERATION
Swede Lars Österlind is a highly experienced FIA steward, who has officiated at more than 100 grands prix and a similar number of World Rally Championship rounds. A social sciences graduate and lifelong motor sport enthusiast, Österlind was President of the Swedish Rally Commission from 1978-1982, then President of the Swedish Automobile Sport Federation from 1982-1996. He became honorary president in 1996 and has been a member of the FIA World Council since 1984. Outside motor sport Österlind has specialised in management, working as a management consultant and pursuing his own business interests. He is also experienced in local government at city council level.
José Abed, an FIA Vice President since 2006, began competing in motor sport in 1961. In 1985, as a motor sport official, Abed founded the Mexican Organisation of International Motor Sport (OMDAI) which represents Mexico in the FIA. He sat as its Vice- President from 1985 to 1999, becoming President in 2003. In 1986, Abed began promoting truck racing events in Mexico and from 1986 to 1992, he was President of Mexican Grand Prix organising committee. In 1990 and 1991, he was President of the organising committee for the International Championship of Prototype Cars and from 1990 to 1995, Abed was designated Steward for various international Grand Prix events. Since 1990, Abed has been involved in manufacturing prototype chassis, electric cars, rally cars and kart chassis.
EIGHT TIMES LE MANS WINNER, GERMAN F3 CHAMPION (1991), JAPANESE F3 CHAMPION (1993) ALMS CHAMPION (2001)
Denmark’s Tom Kristensen is the most successful driver in the history of the Le Mans 24-Hour race. He has won the classic endurance event eight times, racing for Porsche, Audi and Bentley. Kristensen, 45, has a broad racing CV, having competed in single-seaters, touring cars and a range of sportscars. He has also tested in F1. A popular and respected figure, he is this year again contesting the FIA World Endurance Championship, driving for Audi Sport Team Joest. Along with team mates Loïc Duval and Allan McNish he recently finished second in the opening round of this year’s championship at Spa-Francorchamps and will next month attempt to win a ninth Le Mans crown.
(Source: FIA.com)
Ecclestone on Pirelli
Someone must have been telling porkies after the Barcelona GP, but who I’m not sure. Anyway, here is the latest from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone on the tyre debate.
“I asked Pirelli to make tyres that would not complete 50 percent of a race – meaning we need pit stops. And that’s what they did. It is very, very difficult to predict and say these tyres will last 15 or 20 percent of the race because each circuit is different, we are facing very different temperatures, the cars are different, and last but not least each driver has a different driving style.
In the times when Niki [Lauda] was racing his biggest concern was looking after the gearbox and the brakes – not the tyres. Then we got away from that and the drivers didn’t have to think about anything. Now they have to use their brains and start thinking about how to win races”.
The Express reported after Barcelona, “The tyres are wrong, not what we intended when we asked Pirelli to produce something which did a half race,” said Mr.E’s twin brother. “Pirelli know it and they’re doing something about it. We’ll go back to last season’s type of tyres, which gave us some close racing.”
Last year on the whole we had 1-2 stops and Pirelli stated they would increase that this year to 2-3 stops. So clearly the brief wasa little more than ‘not half the race’ as 3 stops is obviously just 1/4 race distance.
To be fair to Bernie, he is now supporting Pirelli who are indeed acting on instructions and jokes, “The easiest thing for Pirelli would be to produce tyres that you put on at the first race of the season and take off at the last. That would be easy, easy” (quotes from Formula 1 official website).
Bangkok Bargain
Thailand have thrown their hat into the ring to host one of the 10 races to be held by the inaugural Formula E series in 2014. Since launching in August 2012, Formula E Holdings (FEH) has received formal letters of interest from 23 cities across five continents with the final calendar being presented to the FIA for its approval at the September 2013 World Motor Sport Council.
Cities approved so far include, London, Rome, Los Angeles, Miami, Beijing, Putrajaya (Malaysai), Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro and now Bangkok. There has been no indication of what funding is required to host a race, however it is likely to be significantly less than for a Formula 1 event.
Formula E is a flagship project of Jean Todt and the FIA who have refused to sign and agree the F1 Concorde agreement with Ecclestone/FOM. One of the key issues unresolved is that Jean Todt has been demanding a significant increase into the funding of the FIA.
Mr. E and co. are getting rather short of potential host cities, and whilst Sochi Russia have a contract for 2014, none others are in issue at present, and Bangkok has been much lauded as one of Bernie’s 2015 hopeful F1 hosts.
This announcement must surely call into question Bangkok’s commitment to hosting an F1 event and is probably being offered Formula E as an alternative at a fraction of the cost.
Mercedes tyre-less-ly working
Mercedes engineers are working night and day to understand how they can set up the car to be more gentle on it’s tires. Lewis is clearly bored with all the technical stuff and tweets us this.
Lauda Watch
Some days in life just have a weirdness to them which is inexplicable. Then again there is usually a precedent for everything and “In conversation – Bernie Ecclestone & Niki Lauda”, on the F1 official website I’d like to say is reminiscent of Statler and Waldorf – but it’s too ‘loved up’.
Each of the questions are fairly un-connected, so there is no context at all to this other than the question.
Q: Can you still learn from each other?
BE: ”Ah, you learn something every day. I speak with Niki about something and you get new ideas – and I think that also goes for Niki”.
NL: “Let me say this: I have a clear relationship with my ex-boss Bernie Ecclestone. There are so many things going on in Formula One, but one thing has never changed: I come and look in his eyes, he looks in mine, and within five seconds we know which route to take”.
He is the master who knows what his concerns are, I can say what other people’s concerns are, and we had never an issue in finding a viable solution. I am straightforward and he was born like this. Therefore it is easy for me to deal with him”.
Paddy. How much?
Speculation has been rife in the media as to why McLaren let Paddy go early. McLaren Mercedes at the top are no longer lovers and partners. They ceased joint car production, McLaren began building their own cars and Daimler Benz bought an F1 works team so the divorce was inevitable.
There appears no reason for McLaren then to operate with Mercedes AMG F1 and release Paddy early from his contract. James Allen has suggested, “the German manufacturer was very unhappy that Honda engineers would potentially have access to information about its 2014 hybrid turbo engines and would learn a great deal about them, which would help with its own preparations for 2015 entry.
So it appears that they have leveraged this situation to trigger the early release of Lowe. It will be a major boost for Mercedes to have Lowe’s input into the 2014 chassis and engine integration as well as a longer term view on 2015 and 2016 designs”.
Much as I respect James opinion on most things, I cannot agree this is the reason. This leverage would be tantamount to Mercedes giving McLaren carte blanche to reveal all about their 2014 V6 Turbo to Honda. Certainly, Mercedes would be admitting that there was nothing they could do about some levels of espionage and at least getting something in return.
German publication Die Welt appears to be closer to the mark when they state, “Mercedes will have to pay a handsome fee for 51-year-old”, though Mercedes rebuff this, “This is speculation, and we don’t comment on that,” a Mercedes spokesman said.
TJ13 will throw something into the pot. In their attempts to recruit James Allison, they need to demonstrate Paddy is indeed on his way, following Whitmarsh’s comments about ‘wishing’ Paddy would stay and help out fixing the MP4-28.
Either that or James’ arrival is imminent at the MTC, and they would look churlish to force Paddy to continue garden leave having procured Allison at a shorter period. Either that or McLaren do believe that Paddy’s input into the Mercedes 2014 car will slow them down to the level of his latest design, the MP4-28.
UPDATE GMT 11:44 Speaking to journalists in Monaco, Martin Whitmarsh has confirmed the early release of Paddy Lowe is nothing to do with the Honda deal. “In terms of the reasons why, Paddy’s been a loyal servant here and we felt it was the right thing to release him.”
Honda – Cosworth
Rumours are emerging today that Honda are looking for a UK base of operations. At the big reunion announcement last Thursday we heard, “Honda will develop its engines at its facility in Tochigi, Japan, where it has already begun development.” Well today, the ‘Cosworth’ word is being mentioned again.
TJ13 wrote back in October an article charting the relationship between McLaren and Mercedes. I heard whispers back then about Cosworth and wrote, “a little bird told me that McLaren are more than very, very interested”. Check out McLaren-Mercedes divorce and Cosworth need a new partner.
Barcelona – Valencia
TJ13 reported last week that the president of Catalunya had said if Valencia wish to alternate an F1 race every other year with Barcelona, then an agreement will be made. Of course the Catalunya government heavily subsidised the race at the Circuit de Catalunya, and in tough times this eases the burden with the region of Valencia.
During the Spanish GPO, local Spanish radio had officials from the Circuit de Catalunya playing down these suggestions, arguing race sponsors had not been included within the discussions.
Speaking to EFE today, Jose Ciscar who is vice president of Valencia’s regional government said, “We are negotiating a discount for it (the F1 race). When this is done I believe that we can sign the contract between the three parties,” referring to Valencia, Barcelona and F1’s Bernie Ecclestone.
Ciscar said F1 could return to Valencia in 2014, but added, “But I’m very cautious. When we can announce that the deal is done, it will be announced.” Aha. Another example of logic that we have been discussing. It’s breaking out everywhere in F1 these days.
Track Changes to Monaco
Changes to the circuit since 2012:
COTA and tax
During 2012, the Circuit of the America’s was valued by the local taxation authorities at $92m. For 2013 the assessed tax value will be slightly more than $290 million according to the chief appraiser for the Travis Central Appraisal District said Wednesday.
The appraisal could result in a tax bill for the circuit of more than $7.8 million.
This appraisal will rise again in 2014 on the completion of the amphitheatre and other infrastructure projects. (Source: Statesman.com)
NASCAR consider F1 lead
Whilst the ‘Generation 6′ cars have on recently been introduced, NASCAR is looking toward the specifications of the Generation 7 that would probably debut in 2017.
Pat Suhy of GM says, “The questions we are asking ourselves right now are what does the Generation 7 engine look like? is it a direct injection engine? is it a V8? is it a V6? is it turbocharged? all of that stuff. Whilst we are not talking in great detail at the moment, we will be starting to discuss it seriously soon and I don’t think anything is off the table.”
What is indubitable is that the Generation 7 car will be lighter and more efficient. Suhy explains, “We could introduce both a new car and a new engine together and make it more relevant to the products we are selling today, smaller, lighter cars with lower displacement higher specific output engines.
There are plenty of other ways we can reduce the mass of the cars, things like using composite materials, using other materials other than steel for body panels. It changes the demand on the car too, if you reduce the mass of the vehicle do you need as much roll cage? there are a whole bunch of knock on effects like that” (Source: Stockcar Engineer)
Posted in Daily F1 News and Comment
Tags: ecclestone pirelli tyres 2013, formula e bangkok, formula e challenges formula 1 bangkok, honda f1 to buy cosworth, jose abed monaco fia steward, jose abed vice president fia, lars osterland monaco f1 race steward, TOM KRISTENSEN monaco gp f1 steward