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Previously on TJ13:

#F1 Features: ‘Two out of three ain’t bad’

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TJ13 Comments protocol:

OTD Lite: 1983 – The segmented viewing of the German GP

TJ13 Competition Winner in the Flesh

Fat Hippo’s Das Deutschlandlied rewritten 2014

Ferrari indifferent to Alonso demands

Ferrari could learn from Williams experience – Massa (GMM)

Rookie Kvyat hits back at F1 ‘wimps’ criticism (GMM)

Shifting sands for McLaren F1

Kaltenborn to Ferrari, ‘Let’s stay together’

Strange but true

Good bye to another F1 classic

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TJ13 Comments protocol:

Okay, TJ13 has recently seen the comments section expand quickly. When there were 30-40 a day under the DN&C, it was manageable but now we need to change the way we work to provide clarity to others and ensure our responses are targeted properly.

The other night, I replied by accident to either the wrong commentator or under a thread, which left my response open to being interpreted as to more than one other commentator under the thread started by the person I was in fact responding to – with me so far?

Can we start responses @[commentator handle]. So if responding to me, you would begin by typing…. @thejudge13

Further, regardless of how long or short the comment to which you are replying, next copy and paste the words of the sentiment from the commentator to which you are responding, and place them inside speech marks “……..”.

So….

@thejudge13

“Mercedes deny they have ever operated team orders, merely agreed strategy protocols”

[Your response]

Then proceed with your reply.

Should you wish to respond to multiple sentiments made within one comment then cut and paste the first point to which you wish to respond and place it in inverted comments.

So

@thejudge13

“Mercedes deny they have ever operated team orders, merely agreed strategy protocols”

[Your response]

“Toto Wolff said he is happy to share Suzie with anyone whom she fancies”

[Your response]

Etc…etc… etc

Thank you

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OTD Lite: 1983 – The segmented viewing of the German GP

To anyone who refuses to pay for SKY F1 coverage- and it seems that millions across Europe are voting with their feet – let me explain why in Englander-land the BBC highlights remain good enough. Apart from of course the benefit of yellow and red flag periods which the highlights miss…

If you are a newbie to the noisy cars over the last 10 years, TV coverage has been excellent. Go back a little further and we had ITV pretending to enjoy the sport yet putting adverts in stupid places, like Alonso v Schumacher at Imola in 2005… But to the older generation, brought up on men driving fire breathing monsters, TV was a luxury.

On this day, the youngling Jackal sat watching Sunday Grandstand, and the 1983 German Grand Prix. The Ferraris had dominated qualifying and started from the front with Tambay ahead and… I’d like to say what happened next but coverage stopped and we had horse riding/ badminton/ cricket/ snooker… take your pick.

30 minutes later we had the race again for five minutes with Arnoux leading and Murray Walker explaining that Tambay’s engine had expired, before heading off again to some swimming competition and throwing sticks around. No not javelin, caber tossing..

Around 5.40pm the viewers might be gifted the last few laps and today was one of those days with Arnoux leading the Alfa Romeo of De Cesaris across the line… although on many occasions events over-ran and there was no ending at all. So the highlights programme around midnight was essential.

Mamma Jackal didn’t approve but Papa Jackal nodded sagely and kept the peace.

The Jackal

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TJ13 Competition Winner in the Flesh

TJ13 ran a competition between the British and German Grand Pix for one lucky TJ13 jury member to win a Formula 1 team shirt of their choice.

Step forward Mr Dave Pyett, a lifetime McLaren fan!

“I’ve been an avid fan of F1 from the very first race I watched on the TV back in the late eighties and instantly found myself drawn to McLaren. Have been a big fan ever since (even though they haven’t made it easy over the last couple of seasons!).

I’m really looking forward (and praying) that bringing back the old McLaren Honda partnership will see a big swing and move us back to the top where we belong. I’d even love to see Jensen get at least 1 more year with them.”

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Fat Hippo’s Das Deutschlandlied rewritten 2014

With newspaper headlines outraged at a German court allowing Bernie Ecclestone to bribe the officials to waive his bribery charge, the overwhelming sentiment amongst many fans is disillusionment at the authorities.

The Das Deutschlandlied melody was originally written by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) and the 3 verse lyrics added by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798-1874). The fourth verse was written by Albert Matthäi during the French occupation of the Ruhr region in 1923 but since 1952 only the third verse has been officially used.

Offical Anthem:

für das deutsche Vaterland!
For the German Fatherland
Danach lasst uns alle streben
Let us all strive for that
Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand!
In brotherhood with heart and hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Unity and law and freedom
Sind des Glückes Unterpfand;
Are the foundation for happiness
Blüh’ im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Bloom in the glow of happiness
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland.
Bloom, German Fatherland.

Our very own Hippo has taken some time out from ranting to propose a new chapter in Germany’s national anthem. The translation is not literal, merely to work in line with the music.

Dreistigkeit und Recht heisst Freiheit,
Presumptiousness and money sets you free,
hier im deutschen Vaterland,
this is our fatherland,
Kauf dich los und Du wirst frei sein,
Buy out your crime and we will set you free,
Niemand hat Dich je erkannt.
No one ever saw a thing.
Dreistigkeit und Geld heisst Freiheit,
Presumptiousness and money sets you free,
auch wenn Du die Welt bescheißt.
even if you cheat the World,
Sieh das Ganze, gib die Scheine,
See the whole thing, give the cash to us,
Warum ehrlich, wenn’s auch einfach geht,
Why be honest if you’re rich and old.
Sieh das Ganze, gib die Scheine,
See the whole thing, give the cash to us,
Warum ehrlich, wenn’s auch einfach geht
Why be honest if you’re rich and old.

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Ferrari indifferent to Alonso demands

TJ13 reported yesterday that Alonso was willing to extend his contract with the Scuderia until 2019 but for 35 million euro’s ($46million) per annum. With the team rebuilding currently, it is unlikely they will be pace-setters for two or three years but whatever remuneration Alonso and his management team succeed in agreeing with the Italians, there will no doubt be more beneficial get-out clauses in place to allow Alonso to leave.

In recent days, word has emerged that Honda had placed a deadline for enticing Alonso to Mclaren of the 20th August. Speculation in the Italian media suggests Alonso’s contractual demands are in effect an attempt to be released from his contract..

Mattiacci has been on record that Ferrari have a watertight contract and would not be releasing Alonso. To date MArco’s actions would suggest he would rather prove a point by side-lining Alonso with a sabbatical than to allow them to dictate terms.

Ferrari has cautioned the media in Italy through its usual channels, about rumours of contract demands from Alonso. It appears they are suggesting that keeping Alonso is not a priority, despite his undeniable abilities, there are questions over his social skills within the new team environment.

Mattiacci realises that when Ferrari deliver a car capable of contending for championships, the need for a driving genius is diminished.

Dominant teams have proven throughout the years that the rule of incremental performance added by drivers fits the 80:20 rule of thumb. 80% is the capabilities of the car and 20% is derived from the driver’s skill. Brilliant drivers make more of a difference when the car is poor.

Should Ferrari accede to Alonso’s demands for $46million a year – presumably Ferrari’s sponsor Santander would be cover this – then the Spaniard would climb into the top 10 highest paid sporting stars in the world. Currently Lewis Hamilton is the highest paid motor-sport star on $32million a year, and he only ranks 19th on the Forbes top earnings list.

Whilst making the top ten, Alonso would trail behind sports stars from the world of boxing, football, basketball, golf and tennis. Floyd Mayweather is the highest earner on $105million with Christiano Ronaldo on a trifling $80mill…

Some of the Tifosi are aghast at the figure Alonso is demanding, yet inside the upper echelons of the team there is an acceptance that Fernando’s title challenges in 2010 and 2012 – together with multiple race victories – have been, simply priceless.

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(From GMM news source – includes closing TJ13 comment)

Ferrari could learn from Williams experience – Massa

Ferrari could learn from Williams’ recovery from the doldrums of the British team’s past few seasons. That is the claim of Felipe Massa, Williams’ new driver who moved to Grove for 2014 after a long Ferrari career. Undoubtedly aided by the dominant Mercedes engine, Williams has been arguably the surprise team of 2014, having finished a woeful ninth in the 2013 constructors’ table to now trail only the top three teams and proving a regular front row and podium challenger.

Initially, Williams seemed merely to be benefiting from superior horsepower in 2014, but now the FW36 is proving competitive even at twisty circuits like Hungary. “Now we are competitive in the other areas too,” confirmed Brazilian Massa in an interview with the latest edition of Italy’s Autosprint magazine. “It took a while but we did it. And there is still so much to improve,” he added.

Personally, however, 33-year-old Massa is enduring a rough patch alongside the on-form Valtteri Bottas but he argues that his struggle is simply for a turn of luck. “The important thing is that we have a competitive car,” Massa insisted, “and that I am competitive myself. That’s what I care about.”

So when asked if he would have any advice to offer Ferrari if he was ever called back to race for his struggling former employer, Massa answered in the affirmative. “Yes, but I won’t say,” he insisted. “I don’t know if it will happen, but if one day I had to change teams again, I would take all of the experience that I have from Williams.”

Indeed, with Ferrari notably struggling in 2014, Italy’s influential La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that new boss Marco Mattiacci has headed into the summer break having identified the four major areas Maranello must focus on. They are the V6 power unit, speeding up development response times, coordination between the engine and chassis, and better balancing reliability versus performance.

TJ13 comment: Hats off to Massa in his replies to leading questions about advice he could offer Ferrari. Rob Smedley earlier this season made comments about parts working instantly on the Williams as opposed to what Ferrari’s procedure was. Massa proved in Brazil 2008 that he was sporting man and bore no anymosity to anyone for failing to win the title. He still has class about him now unlike Smedley who appear to still harbour resentment at something within Ferrari.

As to Mattiacci’s four point plan. Anyone with sense could tell these were areas that Ferrari lacked but it beggars the question what was Stefano Domenicali, Luca Marmorini and Pat Fry turning their attention to previously. With two out of three ‘departed’ it surely is only a matter of time before Fry joins the others as a bitter-sweet memory at Ferrari.

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(From GMM news source – includes closing TJ13 comment)

Rookie Kvyat hits back at F1 ‘wimps’ criticism

Daniil Kvyat, the youngest rookie in formula one, has hit back at suggestions formula one drivers lack the hero status of the sport’s past stars. Amid the sport’s struggle to fill grandstands and boost television ratings in 2014, many have pointed the finger at the drivers for failing to compete in the charisma and courage stakes with greats like Villeneuve, Senna and Mansell. F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s manager Willi Weber, for example, this week hit out at the “wimps” that today fill the grand prix grid.

20-year-old Russian rookie Kvyat, however, thinks it is wrong to suggest that today’s F1 drivers lack courage. “In my opinion F1 remains one of the sports in which courage is most relevant,” he told Italy’s  Omnicorse. “I don’t like to hear that the modern driver is no longer a knight of risk — that compared with the 80s we are not real men,” the Toro Rosso driver insisted. “That’s all bullsh*t,” said Kvyat. “All that separates us from 340kph and the wall is our brakes and a hundred metres of asphalt,” he exclaimed. “Risk in formula one cannot be erased, but it is right that we do everything possible to improve the safety of the tracks and the cars.”

Another criticism made by Weber this week, and echoed by many others, is that greats like Schumacher, Senna and Villeneuve gave “their answer on the track” rather than to their engineers on the radio. But Kvyat argues: “With the new regulations, the role of the engineer is essential — the management of electrical energy cannot be controlled only by the driver. Let’s clarify another thing,” he added. “If there is the possibility to overtake, the driver must always try it. There is never the situation when the engineer tells you to forget it, to wait. But at the same time we need to adapt to the situation of fuel consumption and the wear of the tyres.”

As for the suggestion that the grands prix today are boring, Kvyat also argues his case. “I don’t know what people are expecting,” he said. “I have looked at the grands prix and I have to say that the show is not bad at all. Sure, some races are more exciting than others, but if we go back to the races in the 2000s they were dominated by one driver — what was so spectacular about that? Maybe the public has not understood the rule changes we have done, but I am sure we have taken the right path,” Kvyat continued. “It took courage to change to experimental solutions in order to progress normal road cars.”

Finally, when asked what rule change he would instigate immediately to improve F1, Kvyat answered: “I would wait a little longer. It seems to me that the package we have now is not so bad.”

TJ13 comment: Mr ’20 per cent’ Willi Weber made mahogany varnish jealous due to his non-human colouring. A shrewd and cunning negotiator – he made millions for Schumacher and himself by getting Ferrari’s permission to put their shield on MSC branded products.

Yet his assumption that the current generation are wimps is completely wrong. The average age of the drivers is  younger than they have ever been, but not one is in fear of competition. Alonso and Kimi both raced Schumi at his peak, Button was on track also, but with incremental transmission of radio conversations, it is easy to draw the inference that the current crop of drivers are ‘whiners’, whilst they are in fact utilising the medium to send a message to ‘Charlie’.

The question is, would Senna, Schumacher or even Villeneuve at Imola 82 have been screaming into the radio in similar fashion? What is clear is that the best drivers of yesteryear used every advantage in their quest for glory. The legendary Jack Brabham had a trick which saw him drive partially off the edge of a circuit, to shower a following driver with dust and/or stones.

It is hard to describe the Vettel and Alonso fight through the Curva Grande, two years on the trot, as wimpish. All that at 180mph.

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Shifting sands for McLaren F1

Eric the believable is earning his coin for Big Ron this year.

Prior to the commencement of this season, Ron Dennis said, “Our cars will not feature a title sponsor at the first event, but it will definitely feature a title sponsor in the next few events.”

Since then Ron’s new lackey has been wheeled out to face the music whenever the media raise the issue of McLaren’s lack of a title sponsor.

In April, Eric confirmed in relation to the McLaren title sponsor, “The plan Ron discussed is happening.”

Most recently following the Silverstone race (round 9), Eric was asked why McLaren had not announced their 2014 title sponsor, he told reporters, “We will announce it when we sign it and obviously it’s because we haven’t finalised it”.

TJ13 revealed in January that McLaren would choose not to run with a title sponsor for 2014 (story here).

Daily #F1 News and Comment: Thursday 2nd January 2014

Eric has been consistently thrown to the wolves to bolster a position which was never true. Maybe this was a test from Ron to evaluate the Frenchman’s fortitude.

This is not the only matter on which Boullier has had to represent a McLaren policy in ‘shifting sand’.

Not giving up on this year’s MP4-29 challenge has been a mantra for most of the season thus far.

Following the first 4 flyaway races, McLaren believed their car was the second quickest behind Mercedes. They claimed the double retirement in Bahrain and the zero points scored in China were not a reflection of the car’s true performance capabilities.

Prior to the Spanish GP, Eric told Formula1.com, “What we have seen on the track has been one thing, but back in the factory we know what is going to happen in the next three or four races”.

The implication was clear. It was full steam ahead on the development of the MP4-29, whilst at the same time next year’s car development would be unaffected.

In the same pre-Spain interview Boullier stated that for 2015, “It will be a completely new car. We’ve already been through the pain from last year to this year, so 50 percent is already done. At least we are prepared for the pain”.

7 races on, the team from Woking languishes in 6^th position in the F1 constructors’ table, behind all the other Mercedes powered teams and the Renault powered Red Bulls.

The factory clearly got it wrong. The push for this year didn’t work and so now Eric has been forced to change his tune.

Speaking to Speedweek yesterday, Boullier now reveals. “We see this year’s car as a rolling laboratory for the coming season. What we do this year has great relevance, because according to the rules the mounting points of the engine and transmission are the same next year, even if you change engine partner.

So most of our improvements this year will have a direct impact on the design of the next McLaren.”

Around the turn of the year, Big Ron captivated the Woking troops with a rousing speech following his ousting of Whitmarsh and return to executive power. The team’s compass would be “returned to true North”, was Dennis’ fundamental claim.

“True North” alludes to the direction and the goals, which is a function of leadership. Yet this year Eric Boullier, Team Principal Sporting Director, on a range of issues and at various times faced all points of the compass –  with the frequency of a spinning top

Further, for McLaren ‘True North’ will be tricky to discover, until their claim is staked upon solid ground, and not the sands which are relentlessly shifting.

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Kaltenborn to Ferrari, ‘Let’s stay together’

F1 engine customer teams have become emboldened during 2014. Red Bull racing led the way with constant bitching, complaining and threats directed at Renault.

The French manufacturer was honest, stating following winter test 1, it would take 6 months to eradicate their design flaws which were leading to unreliability. Quietly and concurrently, Red Bull have also been developing out the design flaws inherent in the RB10 which arrived in Jerez.

Lowly Sauber have also come out, making comments about their partner Ferrari and their 2014 engine.

Speaking to Italia Racing, Monisha Kaltenborn accepts, “It is too easy to say something is the fault of others.” Sauber are without a single point this year and Kaltenborn believes, “the engine is one of the major factors, especially from the point of view of driveability”

Sauber are believed to have been bailed out by Ferrari during the past twelve months, when the team was on the point of collapse. It is then no surprise Monisha isn’t searching for a new partner and declares, “I’m quite sure that if I’m sad or unhappy, my colleagues at Ferrari are twice as sad and unhappy”.

We have a long relationship with Ferrari and we have had our ups and downs over the years, but let’s stay together and we will come out together,”

Cue Al Green….

I’m… I’m so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is all right with me…
‘Cause you… make me feel… so brand new.
And I… want to spend my life with you…

Let me say that since, baby
Since we’ve been together
Ooo… Loving you forever
Is what I… nee…ee…ee…eeeeed…
Let me… be the one you come running to…
I’ll… never be untrue…

Ooo baby…
Let’s, let’s stay together…
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Ooooo… Oooo… Yeah.
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

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Strange but true

A zoo in the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea has welcomed its latest arrival – a calf born as the result of a lonesome zebra getting intimate with a donkey.

Russian zoo-keeper, Oleg Zubkov, Is proud of the zoo’s new arrival.

However, an indignant Anna Kachurovskaya from the motherland Moscow zoo is dismissive.

“Such things don’t happen in civilised zoos, but can occur at private zoos or on farms. This sort of marketing is not justified or scientific … zoos are for preserving wild species, that is one of their most important goals.”

Oleg, is a huge Formula 1 fan, and is thrilled by the recent joint efforts of Crimea’s new head of state (Vladimir Putin) in conjunction with Formula 1 supremo (Bernie Ecclestone), which has resulted in the up-coming inaugural Russian GP.

Such is Oleg’s delight in the opportunity to go and watch his favourite sport, he is considering celebrating the partners who made this possible  by naming the beast… ‘Vladistone’.

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Good bye to another F1 classic

The Italian motorsport fans were outraged at the suggestion Ecclestone may cancel the annual festival of Formula 1 racing in Monza. And it is with sadness, they now wave goodbye to one of the all time classic corners in Formula 1 history. The Parabolica.

“If there is a racetrack in the world where the ghosts walk among the trees, it is motorsport’s “cathedral of speed, Monza The circuit’s signature corner, the Parabolica, is an increasing radius, long right-hand turn, the final corner before the start-finish line and Monza’s legendary main straight.

Perfect execution with maximum exit speed is thus vital for a quick lap. The corner lasts an astounding 7.6s at race speeds of close to 200kph (150mph), with drivers getting on to the power as early as possible, drifting the cars to the very outside of the tarmac at the exit”. (Formula 1: Art and Genius)

One lonesome member of the Tifosi, was seen staring forlornly at Charlie Whiting’s latest act of sadistic vandalism.

An employee of the Autodromo claims to have heard faint strains of a lament whistled by the distressed member of the Tifosi. His choice of requiem from modern music composer, Amy Grant…. “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”.

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