FORMULA 1 2011

[MIKA27]

Liuzzi expects quick Hispania decision

Vitantonio Liuzzi is hoping to finalise his Formula 1 future in the next few days after making his testing debut for the Hispania team at Barcelona yesterday.

The Italian, who raced for Force India last year, is a contender for the second Hispania seat alongside Narain Karthikeyan, but admits that he is also chasing a possible third driver role with other teams.

Liuzzi is believed to be well-regarded by HRT team principal Colin Kolles, who is keen to have a more experienced driver in his line-up, but there are also a number of others in contention for the seat. Today, former Formula Renault V6 champion and sometime GP2 racer Giorgio Mondini is in the car.

"We will wait and see," Liuzzi told AUTOSPORT when asked about his prospects of landing the drive. "HRT needed someone to test the car who could drive the development and engineering side.

"They were really happy to have me in the car for a day and we agreed to do this day of testing to get to know each other and see if there is any way for the future.

"In the next few days, we'll see what will happen. I'm still finalising my situation, but there is a chance to be there for the future."

Liuzzi endured a difficult season for Force India in 2010, suffering a number of mechanical problems that prevented him showing his full potential. He is determined to stay involved in F1 in some capacity in 2011 and believes that a reserve role would be a good alternative if he fails to land a race seat.

"For a race drive, it's very difficult because it's well known that HRT is the only available seat. There are some third driver possibilities, but I don't think that there is one choice pointing me one way or the other. I'm evaluating the situation, but at the moment it's a big question mark. Nothing is done yet.

"My desire to win is still the same and that's why I want to stay in F1 because I don't think that I have had the chance to shine. F1 is where I want to be."

The Italian added that the team made a positive impression on him, convincing him that Hispania has the potential to grow in F1.

"There is still a lot of work to do and a big window of improvement, but they have a good group. There is real potential for the team to improve because there are good people. So despite the work needed, I was impressed."

[MIKA27]

Sutil says first KERS test will be key

Adrian Sutil says the final test day at Barcelona tomorrow will be a critical one for Force India as it runs its Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) for the first time ever.

The team launched its latest car a week later than most, and held off using 2011 additions such as KERS and the adjustable rear wing at its maiden test at Jerez. It will now try Mercedes' KERS for the first time at Catalunya tomorrow.

Sutil said that the VJM04 was currently performing well, so it was important that KERS added performance, not complications.

"You always concentrate on performance but there's still a lot to come," he said of testing so far.

"The balance now is okay, but we'll run the KERS and the KERS affects the balance quite a lot, so that's why we really have to wait for that before we can say where we are.

"Tomorrow hopefully we'll get it on and maybe I'll know more about how it really feels after that one."

But he said he was optimistic at present, as he has been impressed with the new Force India so far and the Mercedes KERS was well-regarded when it was last used in Formula 1 in 2009.

Asked how significant to Force India's programme the first run of KERS would be, Sutil replied: "It's very important, of course. But I think we have a good package. Mercedes KERS is well known as the best KERS so I've no concerns that it should make any problems. We'll fit it in and see how it goes."

Today's test ran more smoothly for Force India than some of its pre-season days so far, and Sutil was pleased that he was now getting enough mileage to make good progress with the new car.

"There were a few problems at Jerez but my days were quite good," he said. "For me it's the second day of good driving in the car."

[MIKA27]

Trulli delighted with Lotus' potential

Jarno Trulli says he is delighted with the new Lotus, despite reliability worries, and reckons there is still plenty more to come from the car.

The Italian was sixth-fastest at Catalunya today.

"There is still a lot to come out, but so far it's very promising, very good," said Trulli.

"I'm happy because it was a long time that we were not so close to the guys at the top. I'm really happy at the moment about the way we are progressing.

"Obviously, I think still a lot more potential in the car. We need to work, we need to get the mileage done, in order to have more confidence in the car and also, set-up wise, we haven't done much so I think we are on the right way but we still have a lot to get out of the car."

Lotus has had some niggling reliability issues, with water leaks proving particularly common. But Trulli said he was actually more encouraged because Lotus was looking so strong even with the interruptions to its running.

"In general it was a difficult day because there we had a lot of stops, a lot of mechanical gremlins, which prevented us doing more laps," he said. "All in all I was very impressed by the car because we managed to do a few runs. Good conditions, good laptimes, so competitive."

He does not think Lotus should be any more concerned about its reliability than any other team.

Asked if he was concerned that testing was not going very smoothly for his team, Trulli replied: "I think we're not the only one down in the paddock. A lot of people are fighting with reliability, but we have to look at our car and definitely we have some stuff to get fixed."

[ryans]

Does anyone have a good set of rules/scoring for a Fantasy F1 league? Looking to do a league at work with friends where we DRAFT drivers and constructors. But all the leagues I look at are you get a certain amount of points or dollars and you build a team, I dont like the type of fantasy leagues where every team could have Vettel, I want to do a draft style where if you get the first pick you can take vettel but your next driver (considering 5 teams) would be the #10 guy.

I know a friend of mine does it but I'm not that familiar with it since I don't really partake.

I think the gist of it is that every person starts with a budget of $100 million and using your budget you can buy drivers and chassis.

For example, someone can buy Vettel for $45 mil, but can't buy a Red Bull chassis because he is part of the Red Bull team, so he would have to buy a Sauber chassis for 20 mil, and then another driver and chassis with the remaining 35 million.

The better the driver and team is, the more expensive they are.

Points/money is scored depending on the finishing positions of the driver and chassis, and extra points for pole or something.

Again, I'm not sure because I don't play it, but I'm sure that I can create something of my own for the rules.

It'd be a ***** to keep track of every position in every race, and the points scored for everyone ect. ect.

[kgoings]

Sorry KG...

It seems like a great idea to have but how would it all score considering there are so many drivers?

If you get Vettel GREAT, I'd hate to see who gets the HRT's!!

Should anyone find a solution, I'd be interested to see how it all works.

Its kinda the same idea as fantasy football, baseball, et al.

Team 1 gets #1 driver

Team 2 gets #2 driver

Team 3 gets #3 driver

Team 4 gets #4 driver

Team 5 gets #5 driver

Team 5 gets #6 driver, maybe number 1 constructor

Team 4....and so on

If you get Vettel your next driver is bordering on the Top 10, where as Number 5 pick can take a top 5 driver and the number one constructor, or two top 6 drivers. I am gonna give it a try this year with some friends from work. Figure you couldn't do more than 5 or 6 people. Draft 3 drivers and a constructor. Maybe a rule that you can't take a constructor whom one of your drivers drives for?? I'll let everyone know how it works out.

[MIKA27]

VIDEO: Slow-Mo shots of the RB7 in Jerez

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Team Lotus T128 on-track in Valencia

Nice car!

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VIDEO: A look at the Force India VJM04

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VIDEO: Ferrari F150: 360 around the car

[BigGuns]

Just saw it come over the wire - Bahrain has been canceled. Sucks, but I think it's the right decision.

5th pre-season test coming, I guess...

Forza.

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing/f1/ne...tory?id=6144179

[kgoings]

Sorry KG...

It seems like a great idea to have but how would it all score considering there are so many drivers?

If you get Vettel GREAT, I'd hate to see who gets the HRT's!!

Should anyone find a solution, I'd be interested to see how it all works.

So I found a scoring system, and I ran through last years results. If the draft went perfectly (knowing who was going to finish where in points) having the first pick actually hurt, case the team that had Vettel got last place. This was sim'd with only 5 teams which I think you could go 6 teams, and the constructors were not added in the sim. The sim is for ONLY the finishing points.

Team 1

Pick 1 Sebastian Vettel

Pick 10 Rubens Baichello Team Points 311

Team 2

Pick 2 Fenando Alonso

Pick 9 Michael Schumacher Team Points 332

Team 3

Pick 3 Mark Webber

Pick 8 Robert Kubica Team Points 378

Team 4

Pick 4 Lewis Hamilton

Pick 7 Nico Rosberg Team Points 392

Team 5

Pick 5 Jenson Button

Pick 6 Felipe Massa Team Points 360

[ryans]

Just saw it come over the wire - Bahrain has been canceled. Sucks, but I think it's the right decision.

5th pre-season test coming, I guess...

Forza.

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing/f1/ne...tory?id=6144179

Thanks for the news!

5th test in Barcelona was confirmed today for 8-11th of March.

There's also talk of having the Bahrain GP rescheduled for in November either before or after the Indian GP and the Abu Dhabi GP

[MIKA27]

Thanks for the news!

5th test in Barcelona was confirmed today for 8-11th of March.

There's also talk of having the Bahrain GP rescheduled for in November either before or after the Indian GP and the Abu Dhabi GP

Great stuff on all accounts!

[MIKA27]

Buemi keeping mum about his future

Sebastien Buemi is refusing to comment on speculation that 2011 is a make-or-break season for him at Toro Rosso.

After an encouraging start to his F1 career in 2009, Buemi stagnated last season as Toro Rosso failed to match the lofty heights of the previous two years.

With so many talented drivers in the Red Bull Racing's young driver programme, there have been suggestions that Buemi or team-mate Jaime Alguersuari could make way next year.

Swiss driver Buemi, though, says he's only concentrating on the job ahead.

"It is much too early to say what will happen," he told the official Formula One website. "Obviously Red Bull - and myself - want to see results and improvements. If it does not happen we have to sit down and think what we have to do to change that.

"Right now we have to concentrate on the job ahead of us. Obviously you cannot judge the performance of someone only on the actual results - you need to compare it to his team mate and compare it to the speed of the car. If, for example, in the past you were sitting in a Minardi and qualifying 3.5 seconds from pole position it meant a really good time, so you cannot expect people to win if the car is not good enough.

"Red Bull on the other hand is really good in that respect because they look into the details of the performance and from there they will make a decision on the future of a driver. Let's wait and see. I am pushing as hard as I can and I am prepared as well as possible, so let's wait for the season to start."

He added: "I know that everybody thinks this will be an important season, but for me I don't think that it will be more important than any other season. It is my third season now with Toro Rosso and clearly we want to make a step forward. We expect a lot so let's wait and see what we are able to achieve.

"It is always difficult to say what it will be like before you go to the first race. To read anything into the test times is always like reading a crystal ball, but this year it's even more difficult with four different compounds of tyres. You never really know what the others are up to. We are really aiming to end up ahead of one of the other teams that were in front of us last season - P7 in the Constructors' Championship would be our objective."

Buemi picked up only eight points last year and he says his main aim for 2011 is to get into the top 10 more often.

"I definitely don't want to go below last year. I at least want to be as good as last year, "he said.

"I want to be a regular points' scorer. I am really hungry for points. I didn't have enough last season!"

[MIKA27]

Schumi and co back Bahrain decision

Michael Schumacher has welcomed the decision to call off the Bahrain Grand Prix due to the unrest in the Gulf country.

Organisers on Monday confirmed the race has been withdrawn from its March 13 slot and they are hopeful of rescheduling it for a later date.

Mercedes GP driver Schumacher says the people of Bahrain have "more pressing issues than Formula One".

"Like many other Formula One colleagues I consider it a good decision to call off the competition in Bahrain," seven-time World Champion Schumacher said in a statement on his official website.

"The people there have more pressing issues than Formula One, and those have priority."

Ferrari's Felipe Massa also feels the race was postponed "for more important reasons".

"Bahrain is a track I like, so I would have liked to start the Championship there," he said. "But maybe we will go back and race there again - I like the track and I like to be there.

"But if we don't go, it's okay. It's for more important reasons. The human side is much stronger than the professional side, what is happening there is very serious and I hope everything will be normal. The safe side is much more important."

F1 rookie Jerome d'Ambrosio says the decision was made in the best interest of everyone.

"The only thing we can say is that it's sad to see what is happening there, not for us but for the people there," he told GPUpdate.net. "It's not nice to see such a thing happen.

"It's not my decision. If the people who have to decide take that decision it's because it's the best for us and it's not my job to comment about it. The only thing I can say is that it's sad to see what's happening on the television."

Outspoken Red Bull driver Mark Webber says they didn't have much of an option.

"They [the authorities] know what's going on, so the right decision is made," he is quoted on the BBC.

"I made my decision yesterday which was pretty clear - read the papers. They know what's going on out there and they've made their call so let's go to Melbourne.

"It would have been nice to go to Bahrain but we have to wait a bit longer to have our first race and that just happens to be my home race. Back to the good old days."

[MIKA27]

Heidfeld: Sadly we're not at the top of the grid

Nick Heidfeld has fired a warning shot to his fans, saying they shouldn't expect to see him at the front of the grid, despite positive test results.

The German secured a seat with the Renault team after an unfortunate rally accident left Robert Kubica in hospital with several injuries.

The Pole managed to take part in, and top the first test at the Cheste circuit in Valencia before his accident. Heidfeld then tookover and posted the quickest time on day three in Jerez which led to many thinking the innovative R31 could set the pace during the early races.

Heidfeld says this won't be the case though, given that Red Bull are clearly the quickest team.

"Finally a word to all of my fans, I sadly have to disappoint everyone who is thinking that we are top of the grid now because of the fastest lap of Robert in Valencia and mine in Jerez," he wrote on his website.

"I hope that we will do well, but it seems that Red Bull is the fastest team. Certainly we [will] work hard to change this."

[MIKA27]

Mercedes might just surprise you - Haug

Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug has changed his tune following the test in Barcelona last week.

The German had previously stated that the W02 was outside the top ten quickest cars but, following a change of strategy and further updates in Barcelona, he's much more upbeat on the teams prospects.

"The times we have seen in Barcelona, look ever better than what we have seen in previous tests," Haug told Auto und Motor Sport. "Because we were able to drive more laps, we now understand the car and the tires better and that brings about lap-time.

"With our laps [in Barcelona], we went with very different settings than before. If everything goes in the right direction, the Silver Arrow may just surprise you," he added.

Haug believes the greater top speed of the Mercedes might just be their key to making up places in the opening few laps. During the latest test, the Brackley-based team were the quickest through the speed trap at 316km/h, with only Renault coming close.

He predicts that this, a bunched-up grid and fresh tyres at the start of the race will see many overtaking moves.

[MIKA27]

Kolles: HRT 'will catch' Lotus, Virgin

HRT team boss Colin Kolles sees no reason why his squad cannot overhaul fellow 2010 newcomers Lotus and Virgin in the future, and believes its new F111 will bring up to date with contemporary Formula 1 design after its poor debut year.

The 2010 HRT - which was originally created by Dallara before the relationship between the Italian constructor and the team broke down - was the slowest car in the field throughout last season.

But Hispania is close to finishing an all-new 2011 car, the design of which has been led by former Williams, BAR/Honda and Red Bull man Geoff Willis.

"There are experienced people working on the car. For sure we had no optimum winter, but we have a completely new car, and we will work on it and try to improve it," said Kolles.

"The car doesn't look too bad; it looks like a modern F1 car. We'll see where we are - I cannot tell you at the moment. I think we'll be better in performance than last year, and this is what the indications are at this stage.

"We have to face reality. It's not just having a new car, we have to see what we do with the new car in the future. I think that we will have a good CFD programme in place, a very strong one, and then we'll see where we will be. You have to have an efficient development programme.

"For me one of the surprises last year was that we were running the same car, but the gap was getting smaller and not bigger. I cannot explain it. Maybe our drivers got better! This is a fact, you can see that the percentage that we were slower got smaller.

"I think that if we have the time and if we have our programmes in place, Lotus is not going to be an issue for us. And also Virgin. Because I trust in the people we have, and also the quality of the people I have. I'm not scared at all..."

Despite regular rumours about HRT's financial health last year, Kolles believes there are other teams in worse positions than his.

"People said you are not going to make it Bahrain, we made it," he said. "Then they said you are not going to end the season, and we ended the season. They said you are not going to be in the Abu Dhabi test, and we were in the Abu Dhabi test. Then they said you are not going to be at the Valencia test, and we were.

"What shall I say? Of course we need sponsors, of course we need investors, and of course we need partners. Like everybody else. I have been criticised for having a lot of test drivers in the past. I mean, what are the others doing, with third class drivers? I'm very sorry, but people have to face reality, and see the facts.

"I think that other teams are in deeper trouble than we are, that's number one. I don't know why we are always asked the same question. I repeat myself, I think that in terms of budget and in terms of budget requirements and in terms of debts and so on, we are in very good shape compared to others.

"Our main strategy is to be long term in F1. How you reach this point, we know there are maybe different ways, but this is the goal. Maybe others have different goals. I cannot judge on this."

[MIKA27]

Villeneuve: Vettel's temperament a concern

Jacques Villeneuve believes that Sebastian Vettel needs to mature psychologically in order to make the most of his talent.

The 2010 World Champion was highly criticized for what were perceived as petulant reactions to his shunt with team-mate Mark Webber in Turkey and the drive through penalty imposed on him by stewards in Hungary.

Villeneuve is of the opinion that Vettel needs to quash such tendencies if he is to retain his World title.

"He will still be fast, of that there is no doubt," Villeneuve told T-Online.de.

"The question has always been his psychological maturity. And viewed from the outside, it is impossible to say how this has developed. This will show the first race."

In what will perhaps be a surprise to some, Villeneuve has defended arch rival Michael Schumacher after the German's largely unimpressive return to the sport.

"The first of the season was tough, but in the second he was really strong," explained the 39-year-old.

"He was criticised because he didn't simply blow Nico [Rosberg] away but if you look back at his time at Ferrari he was never more than 0.1 to 0.3 second faster than his team-mates, so why should he be seconds faster than Nico?" questioned the Canadian.

[MIKA27]

Liuzzi won't pay for Hispania drive

Tonio Liuzzi is adamant that if Hispania Racing want to sign him they will do so for his talent and not his money.

Left without a Formula One drive after parting ways with Force India, Liuzzi tested with the Hispania Racing outfit at Barcelona last week.

And although team boss Colin Kolles revealed that the Italian is a "a strong contender for the second seat", the two parties have yet to reach an agreement.

But should they finalise a deal for this year's Championship, Liuzzi says it will be based on his talent as he's not willing to pay for a race-seat.

"They would prefer a driver that brings money I guess, but it's not my case because I've never done it and I cannot start now," he told ESPN.

"I bring my experience, my speed and I do my best for the team, that's for sure.

"The rest I would try to help as much as I could to find sponsors, but I cannot afford to pay to be a driver. I will put my 100% to the team as I always have done."

Asked, if given the choice, he would rather race for the backmarker outfit or test for a top team, Liuzzi said: "It depends who the team is and on all the conditions and terms and the possibilities.

"Everything is critical at the moment in Formula One, a lot of things change monthly so we will see.

"At the moment nothing is decided, we're just having good talks and we'll listen in the next days to see what will happen."

The Italian, though, is confident that, should he opt to join Hispania, they are a team on the up and up.

"More competitive than last year? For sure. Competitive enough? I'm not sure. It's a question mark because everything is happening late, the new car is coming late and the budget is limited as well.

"It's all critical, but for sure they have got some interesting plans and if they happen it will be good."

[MIKA27]

Guadalajara demo for Perez

Sergio Perez is set to wow his Mexican fans as the Sauber driver puts last year's C29 through its paces on the streets of Guadalajara.

Perez, who is gearing up for his grand prix as a Sauber driver, is scheduled to take part in a demonstration run in his home city on 26th February.

The F1 rookie will take to the streets twice in the C29, while his brother Antonio Perez, along with German Quiroga, will also be venturing out in their NASCAR racers.

Also on the agenda are autograph sessions, the presentation of the mascot for the 2011 Pan American Games and a vintage car parade.

"Mexico is hugely excited about the coming season and it's great we can offer the people an event like this in the run-up to it," said 21-year-old Perez.

"It will bring the whole thing to life for them by letting them see, feel and hear what Formula One is all about. And for me it's a small way to express my thanks to the people for their support."

[MIKA27]

'Balance not wear is Pirelli's problem'

Jarno Trulli has delivered a damning verdict on Pirelli's tyres, saying the Italian company does not appear to have done enough development.

Although some drivers are relishing the heavy wear rate of the new Pirelli tyres, confident it will improve overtaking, others have not been as impressed.

In fact, Trulli, one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, believes the tyres are too inconsistent, the balance is out and that it's a sign that Pirelli haven't done enough development.

"I think something is still missing in the development, because the tyres aren't balanced yet," Trulli told Autosprint magazine.

"I think this is the biggest problem to face at the moment. Pirelli says that this is what the FIA asked them to do, to have tyres that wear quickly, but I don't think this is the problem.

"In my opinion tyre wear is secondary compared to the tyre's balance problems, because at the moment you get on the track with a new tyre that initially is understeering, and after three laps the behaviour is the opposite, that is impossible oversteering."

[MIKA27]

'Mistakes part of Maldonado's learning'

Williams tech director Sam Michael is expecting great things from rookie driver Pastor Maldonado but concedes that mistakes will be made.

Maldonado will race for Williams this season, partnering the vastly-experienced Rubens Barrichello. And although the 2010 GP2 Champion has put in some impressive displays during pre-season testing, although he has also made a few costly errors.

However, Michael believes the Venezuelan has the talent and the maturity to help the team in their bid to move up the order.

"The job that he's done in the short testing that we've had so far has been very good," he said.

"One of the things I liked, and I called Frank (Williams) and Patrick (Head) straight away after the first test to say, is that he is definitely naturally talented.

"On his first couple of days in Valencia we looked at all of his data compared to Rubens and you could see that he has a natural talent.

"Pastor is a rookie. He will make a few mistakes and will have a few crashes like every rookie does.

"But the one thing I'm quite impressed by already is, probably because he's 25 years old, and he's five years older than what a normal rookie is when they come into the sport, he's got a level of maturity that's higher. That's quite encouraging."

[MIKA27]

Raikkonen: No interest in F1 return

Just in case you missed it the first million times he said it, Kimi Raikkonen has "no interest in returning to Formula One."

Raikkonen quit Formula One at the end of the 2009 season after parting ways with Ferrari and failing to land a race-seat with the competitive McLaren team.

Instead, the Finn switched to the World Rally Championship where he endured a error-strewn season with Citroen.

And although rumours had linked the 2007 World Champ to a F1 comeback with Renault, Raikkonen opted to remain in rallying.

And that's where he intends staying.

"I have no interest in returning to Formula One," the 31-year-old told the Gulf News.

"I do not want to talk about Formula One.

"Rallying is where I want to be and it is good to be back for another season."

[MIKA27]

'Williams would have boycotted Bahrain'

Williams chairman Adam Parr has revealed that his team, "in fact I suspect even all the teams", would not have attended the Bahrain GP had it not been cancelled.

The Bahrain GP, which was scheduled to take place on 13 March, was thrown into doubt as political unrest swept through the island kingdom.

As a result the Bahrain Crown Prince confirmed on Monday that the race would not take place, adding that he hoped it could be rescheduled for later in the season.

"We felt it was important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest and leave the hosting of Bahrain's Formula 1 race to a later date," HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa said.

However, if the Crown Prince had not made that call, Parr says Williams and their rivals would have opted to boycott the race.

"The decision was right by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and if for whatever conceivable reason that hadn't been the decision, I don't think we would have (gone)," he told Autosport.

"Had the Bahrain Grand Prix gone ahead, I don't think we, and in fact I suspect even all the teams, would have gone.

"It was quite apparent to everybody that we were simply going to make the situation there worse, because we would have been a focal point for demonstrations and unrest.

"There would have been all the media associated with us there, and therefore I think it would have just been incendiary."

Parr also revealed that the teams are keen to see the race take place later this season, depending of course on the political climate.

"I think everyone is going to try really hard to put it back on the schedule, but I am not sure about it with the weather. Obviously that takes out the summer months, then it's a bit hectic with all the flyaways we've got.

"I'm sure everyone is going to try really hard to find a new date, assuming of course that everything has settled down. But I am not sure at the moment."