f1 news blog

Horner was in Maranello, 2013 Calendar Hokey-Cokey: Portugal now in?

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Follow thejudge13: Why not follow thejudge13 by email. Click on the button at the top right of the page to receive an email when (and only when) a new article hits the interweb.

I have now put 2 RSS feeds at the bottom of the right hand bar for those of you who know how to use them for updates.

Judges Chambers: Sorry if any of you were looking for the 2nd TJ13 feed yesterday, Craig is doing battle with them to allow us to have it how we want – Like Skywalker flying through the trench against the Empire.

I am excited to announce a further member of the TJ13. Adding a 3rd nationality to our merry band of folk  – Cavallino Rampante will be running statistics for us this year. I’m hoping to set up a separate page where we can post these analytical wonders – when someone tells me how that’s done (see technical page if you think you can help).

Further, when not calculating the ave degradation per inch and temperature rise per millisecond, our lover of horses will be preparing 1 day a week, “on this Day”. [cue applause].

Any one else wanting to do 1 day a week, ‘On this day’ step up and mail thejudge13@hotmail.co.uk. I can give you the topics if you like, and you the just research and write…

2013 calendar: My keyboard screams as this combination of letters is sequentially typed out. Having not been the centre of F1 insanity for a few days, Bernie’s decided that Toto, Lauda and Brawn need some time together alone. Obligingly, he steps up to the plate.

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Alonso will not drive in Jerez, Valencia street circuit falls into ruin

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I have now put 2 RSS feeds at the bottom of the right hand bar for those of you who know how to use them for updates.

Testing: An interesting development from Ferrari. They have announced today Alonso will not take part in the first pre-season testing in Jerez. Massa will get the first 3 days, and De La Rosa will drive on the Friday. The explanation from Ferrari for giving De la Rosa some track time is, “it will allow both the team and the driver to work specifically on looking at the correlation between the virtual and the real experience. The work of assembling the new car goes on: yesterday the engine was fired up for the first time.”

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Brawn: To stay…for now, Lewis puts on a brave face

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I have now put 2 RSS feeds at the bottom of the right hand bar for those of you who know how to use them for updates.

Brawn: The fuller picture. Having asked the question in the end of year TJ13 questionnaire whether people were interested in ‘breaking news’ being delivered here, I was surprised how high the count was. So, although this week is unlikely to re-occur, I will endeavour to do what we did in the previous posting, when appropriate.

So, things are settling down and we can take a more considered view of the lie of the land. Here’s Ross’s comments in a more complete form – I was getting them by twitter and text before – so apologies if the final version differs slightly. I think the sentiment is the same and at times more surprising.

Ross was asked whether the recent events and the teams media management of matters would cause confusion in the way Mercedes will be run. “I am the team principal. I am in charge of sporting, technical and racing matters. There is another side of the business that I don’t want to get involved in – the commercial activities – [that] Toto will be doing [and which] are complementary to what I will be doing.

He asserts, “But everybody knows the only way a racing team will work is to have one reference, and I’m that reference.”

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Brawn admits he may choose to leave, Mercedes confirm they have contacted Paddy Lowe, Hip Lotus launch E21 via Social Media, Some Jenson nostalgia

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Follow thejudge13: Why not follow thejudge13 by email. Click on the button at the top right of the page to receive an email when (and only when) a new article hits the interweb.

I have now put 2 RSS feeds at the bottom of the right hand bar for those of you who know how to use them for updates.

TJ13 Recruitment: We have 2 new members announced yesterday which is exciting – they’re raring to go. Bart’s first piece for ‘On this Day’ will be Feb 1st. A quick word. It has pointed out to me that I may have made the production of ‘On this Day’ sound arduous and difficult. I love doing ‘On this day’ and will probably always retain a day or so a week to do this. I get absorbed in the stories, following links from Wikipedia to all kinds of journals I’ve never read past and present.

In the past 15 weeks or so, my F1 knowledge on historic events and the specific detail has grown exponentially – of course then you begin to see parallels with current F1 themes. Fabulous way to learn about F1 with a bit of structure to that research. I can give any ‘On this day’ journalist the topics for the day if that helps and show them how to do the research too.

When up to speed, OTD should take about 30 mins to produce from start to finish – this includes finding appropriate YouTube video etc. The if you start enjoying yourself it may take a little longer. 🙂 If interested in taking 1 day a week drop me a line at thejudge13@hotmail.co.uk

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Opening Night ~ “F1 & The Musical Chairs”: Starring – Zetsche the Godfather, Lauda the Hatchet man, Toto the Wolff in sheep’s clothing, Fry the Mole, Jordan the Whistle Blower, Brawn as the ousted King and Paddy Lowe as the Ghost of Christmas to come

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Follow thejudge13: Why not follow thejudge13 by email. Click on the button at the top right of the page to receive an email when (and only when) a new article hits the interweb.

I have now put 2 RSS feeds at the bottom of the right hand bar for those of you who know how to use them for updates.

TJ13 internship: It has been suggested to me that I get some help with the site, as I can spend easily 6 hours some days reading, researching writing and honing the material. One area I thought of is the, ‘On this day’ feature. When I’m busy, this suffers and I believe some of you quite like it.

This could be a good project for under graduates studying journalism or media studies to include in their portfolio of work. Ideally a few helping hands would be good – and if we had 7, it would only be 1 day a week each would need to provide something. I can brief on the topic if necessary, and then the apprentice TJ13’s could go and find video and source information, write it up and use contemporary information to bring it relevant to the here and now. For someone who is feeling lethargic – they can have Feb 29th.

Anyway, if you or someone you know are up for this they can email thejudge13@hotmail.co.uk. Please – I am not sinking here and can manage for now without, so if you are a busy person and can’t commit fully I’d rather you not offer. Chasing up material that is late will be worse than just delivering it.

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Paddy Lowe off to join the massed ranks at Mercedes AMG F1

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I have now put 2 RSS feeds at the bottom of the right hand bar for those of you who know how to use them for updates.

In England, our buses used to be run by the government (give me some leeway) and whilst they issued timetables to the minute where each of the 10,000’s of buses should be and when – as with most of 70’s Britain which was nicknamed ‘the sick man of Europe’ – efficiency was poor and nothing was where it should be – when it should have been there.

What would then happen is, having waited for 30 minutes longer than expected, a bus would arrive and directly behind it would be another and maybe a third. Our self deprecating view of British efficiency then spawned the phrase – ‘buses always come in 3’s’.

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Force India decision makers log jammed over both 2013 driver choices

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Follow thejudge13: Why not follow thejudge13 by email. Click on the button at the top right of the page to receive an email when (and only when) a new article hits the interweb.

I have now put 2 RSS feeds at the bottom of the right hand bar for those of you who know how to use them for updates.

Di Resta confirmed debate

I am amazed at the people who are certain Paul Di Resta is driving for Force India in 2013. I have been repeatedly questioned in my assertion that Force India have not announced this. Prior to today I’ve been repeatedly told he has a seat fitting and that Vijay told us in September he would be offering an extension to his drivers – as rumours of Hulkenbergs departure began to surface.

We’ve seen today the value of an F1 driving ‘contract’ as the likeable Timo Glock departs F1. For those ‘unbelievers’ who think Di Resta is a done deal, google something like ‘Force India announce Di Resta’ – and you will see a plethora of news stories about the announcements made for the season just ended.

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Glock out of Marrusia, Wolff moves to Mercedes, Wolff and Lauda get 40% of Mercedes AMGF1, Adam Parr to return to Williams

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Follow thejudge13: Why not follow thejudge13 by email. Click on the button at the top right of the page to receive an email when (and only when) a new article hits the interweb.

I have now put 2 RSS feeds at the bottom of the right hand bar for those of you who know how to use them for updates.

From TJ13’s chambers: Having been stranded due to the UK’s inept capabilities in handling snow and then struck simultaneously by a telecoms service cut – NO INTERNET – I have finally made it back to the 21st century following a succesful rescue helicopter air lift by harness from TJ13 Towers.

So I will begin by covering the essentials and then expand the comments and threads of ideas later.

Wolff joins Mercedes: TJ13 has been suggesting all is not well at Williams for some time, the departure of Mark Gillan to ‘spend more time with his family’ as a story that has not yet run its full course. This time last year, Mr. Ecclestone was putting pressure on the historic British team to change their ways.

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Whispers that Force India have a ‘concrete offer’ on the table to sell

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Whispers last week

TJ13 reported earlier in the week that Mallya and Sahara could be in negotiations to sell part of all of the Force India Team. And raise much needed cash.

“I was chatting to someone this weekend who is both experienced and wise in the matters of team operations, and I told him of my increasing surprise at Force India’s lack of announcement of Di Resta. He smiled and said he was not. I pressed him on the matter insisting there is absolutely no reason not to announce a driver who will definitely be racing in 2013.”

He asked me one question. “When football clubs may be about to change owners or managers, do they announce new player contracts or leave those decisions for those about to take responsibility?” (TJ13 Link) 

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Alonso, Marko and Politics, De La Rosa fills an empty seat, De Grassi: 2013 tyres are softer, Rosberg faster than Vettel – really Sergio? Ferrari superstition, Webber and Raikkonen swap engineers, FIA announce new @F1doc

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Follow thejudge13: Why not follow thejudge13 by email. Click on the button at the top right of the page to receive an email when (and only when) a new article hits the interweb. 

I have now put 2 RSS feeds at the bottom of the right hand bar for those of you who know how to use them for updates. Today thejudge13 in 18 weeks and 2 days will see its 100,000 visitor. Thank you all. Any comments you have please feel free to add them.

I have been trying different styles of content to see what fits best – so we’re on this journey together.

Alonso and Politics: You have to love Ferrari and when I reported there was a new communications man in charge, Renato Bisignani, I was concerned we’d see a drastic change. I need not have been worried. This went out on their website today – I’ll publish it word for word

Madonna di Campiglio, 17 January –Alonso, politics and rivals: a lot has been said about this triumvirate during 2012 and someone – over the other side of the Alps – has felt the need to kick off 2013 on the same note. Clearly, the media who do their job and usually enjoy these verbal skirmishes, made the most of the situation, repackaging some of these now classic questions for Fernando.

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