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Mercedes W05 first pictures (07:30)
Red Bull reveals a good looking RB10 (07:45)
Force India shows their ‘bits’ on the VJM07 (08:00)
Lotus nose, clever or illegal? (08:00)
Ecclestone does not believe … (in Haas) (10:11)
Sky competition (13:00)
Caterham reveal that they too can design vomit (14:30)
Ferrari power (16:30)
Mercedes W05 first pictures
Red Bull reveals a good looking RB10
Force India shows their ‘bits’ on the VJM07
Lotus nose, clever or illegal?
When Lotus revealed the computer generated images of their 2014 contender, the E22, two questions came up. Why do they have a pitch-fork for a nose and why did they reveal it at the same time as McLaren revealed their car?
The later appears to have been done as an act of animosity between the teams if rumours can be believed. Both fighting for Sony as a sponsor and a possibility of Team Principal poaching.
Just after Lotus launched their car last Friday the FIA started receiving questions about the legality of the car. As we all know the need for getting clean air under the car and channeled towards the diffuser has led to the ‘high-nose’ cars of the last couple of years. With the design Lotus have there is almost nothing on the nose that blocks air to the bottom and rear of the car.
When Toro Rosso’s James Key was asked if anything else he has seen so far raises alarm bells when it comes to legality he replied “Apart from the Lotus nose, no“. He continues, ““The Lotus nose needs a bit of clarification. It’s a very clever idea. I don’t think it’s illegal, it just whether it’s in the spirit of the regulations.”
Speaking to AMuS Pat Symonds agree, “All the teams are now looking in this direction,” he said.
He continues. “For testing, the nose is not the decisive detail. Everyone just wants to get going and then explore the aerodynamic limits later on.”
Brawn anyone?
Could Lotus have gotten it right but just shot themselves in the foot with their early ‘revelation’?
Ecclestone does not believe … (in Haas)
Since it has been announced that there is an application for a Formula 1 team from the US TJ13 has express doubts in the viability of this. It is well known that being located in or near the UK’s motorsport valley is beneficial, especially for a start-up.
He continues’ “That’s a little bit of a letdown. I respect the man, and it’s a very difficult sport, the highest echelon of racing in the world. They want teams that compete and stay for 10 years.
“I don’t know. If Mr. Ecclestone is saying we don’t have a chance of getting a license, it would be foolish to continue. I’m not sure where that is now. I’m not sure what he’s trying to tell us. Maybe that it’s a very difficult sport. We’ve submitted information. Maybe we don’t have what they want.”
Haas is now learning the hard way how Mr E works however when he sets out his ‘vision’ one has to wonder if Haas has been following Formula 1 for the last 4 years. He articulates his vision as an American-based paradigm that would focus on using software and technology to create cost efficiencies in a series notorious for exorbitant budgets (sounds familiar anyone?).
Haas thinks he can be more competitive by doing it the NASCAR way and spending less money than the big teams. “The big teams spend $200-300m but have 10 engineers working on one fitting. I don’t think we’d approach it that way. But I can be naïve, too“.
“I think if we apply NASCAR techniques, we could bring some of those costs down and maybe accomplish what Formula One really wants: A little more sanity on the cost side and still have good racing. … I just think we as Americans have the ability to take complex machines and figure out how to make them go fast without all the complexity. I could be wrong, but I have that gut feeling.”
If Mr E is serious about cracking the American market is it not important to get a American team or perhaps is it better not to have one and have it fail?
In the words of Haas, Formula 1 is “filled with peril, and there (are) a million ways to fail. For all those reasons, (it) is why you do it – to see if it’s something you can do“. Mr Haas, show us the way please.
Sky Competition
To celebrate the release of Rush on Sky Store this Monday (January 27th), Sky Store is running a competition to win a VIP trip to the British Grand Prix, plus various runner-up prizes.
Anybody who rents Rush from Sky Store from the 27th of January until the 23rd of February will be automatically entered into the competition.
Caterham reveal that they too can design vomit
Tony Fernandes Tweeted
Back to basics. No fancy launch. Launched on my Twitter.
— Tony Fernandes (@tonyfernandes) January 28, 2014
And why I hear you ask, would Mr T not bother with any fancy expensive launch? Well I guess the answer is, would you?
A notable mention to our Usher (@thejudge13twts); trying to tell us last week what you should be reaching for the vomit buckets for…
Ferrari POWAH!
Internet here in Jerez is terrible (non existent) but that doesn’t stop TJ13 striving to get you some video from Jerez.
