JJ Lehto Lamberto Leoni Les Leston Pierre Levegh Bayliss Levrett
Monday, June 30, 2014
Lewis Hamilton move would not be a huge surprise
If Lewis Hamilton does move to Mercedes from McLaren for next season, as Eddie Jordan believes he will, it would be a massive shock but not a huge surprise.
There has appeared no urgency from either Hamilton or McLaren to sort out a new contract for 2013 and at the same time there have been signs of unease in the relationship.
The 27-year-old's management team have approached all the big teams this summer and they got short shrift from Red Bull and Ferrari.
Mercedes's reaction has been warmer, and negotiations are known to have taken place, but the issue is complicated by Michael Schumacher's situation.
Lewis Hamilton is on the verge of leaving Mclaren to drive for Mercedes next season. Photo: Getty
Schumacher has not exactly been setting the world on fire this season, with the notable exception of qualifying fastest in Monaco, but at the same time Mercedes cannot be seen to be sacking him because of his status, particularly in Germany.
The German legend is of huge promotional value to Mercedes but the company is split on whether he should continue.
From a marketing point of view, he is a dream - and as he is considered untouchable in Germany any decision to move aside must appear to have come from him.
But those who see the F1 programme from a performance point of view would rather Schumacher stepped down and made way for someone younger and faster.
If they can replace him with someone of the highest calibre - someone such as Hamilton, for example - then that helps, too, as the decision is more easily understandable.
And it is clear after an increasingly uncompetitive season that the team could benefit from employing Hamilton, who is one of F1's 'big three' alongside Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, neither of whom are available.
The attraction Mercedes might have to Hamilton is less clear, given their current struggles, but perhaps the continuing frustrations of his time at McLaren have convinced him it is time for a change.
McLaren struggled by their own high standards in 2009-11, during which time Hamilton did not have a car competitive enough to mount a full-on title challenge.
They came closest in 2010, but it was always a battle against the generally faster Red Bull and Ferrari.
And although McLaren started this season with the fastest car - and have it again after a brief mid-season dip in form - operational errors earlier in the season hit Hamilton's title bid.
Money may well also be an important factor. Hamilton made some cryptic comments in Belgium last weekend about his future move being a "business decision".
Equally, there have been signs of friction between him and McLaren.
In certain quarters of the team, they are uncomfortable about Hamilton's approach to his job and his mindset. And the disconnect was made public this weekend with his ill-advised behaviour on the social networking site Twitter, on which he posted a picture of confidential team telemetry.
Where does that all leave McLaren, Mercedes and Hamilton? Time will tell.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/09/lewis_hamilton_move_would_not.html
Emilio de Villota Ottorino Volonterio Jo Vonlanthen Ernie de Vos Bill Vukovich
NASCAR: Kyle Busch closes on Phoenix sweep
- Kyle Busch goes wire-to-wire in N’wide Phoenix win AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kyle Busch became the first driver in...
- Kyle Busch rolls to 8th Nationwide win of season CLERMONT, Ind. -- Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski kept it...
- Kyle Busch talking with Tony Kanaan about NASCAR possibility AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kyle Busch has had discussions with IndyCar...
Source: http://doxcar.com/nascar-kyle-busch-closes-on-phoenix-sweep/
Jim Clark† Kevin Cogan Peter Collins Bernard Collomb Alberto Colombo
2015 Lexus IS announced with minor updates
Jackie Holmes Bill Homeier Kazuyoshi Hoshino Jerry Hoyt Nico Hulkenberg
Lightweight Toyota GT 86 spied once more
Bobby Grim Romain Grosjean Olivier Grouillard Brian Gubby Andre Guelfi
F1 2011 Launch Catch Up ? McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Sauber, Toro Rosso, Renault?
Cristiano da Matta Michael May Timmy Mayer Francois Mazet Gastón Mazzacane
Jay Kay's LaFerrari draws attention at Goodwood [video]
Ricardo Rodríguez Alberto Rodriguez Larreta Franco Rol Alan Rollinson Tony Rolt
Lewis Hamilton move would not be a huge surprise
If Lewis Hamilton does move to Mercedes from McLaren for next season, as Eddie Jordan believes he will, it would be a massive shock but not a huge surprise.
There has appeared no urgency from either Hamilton or McLaren to sort out a new contract for 2013 and at the same time there have been signs of unease in the relationship.
The 27-year-old's management team have approached all the big teams this summer and they got short shrift from Red Bull and Ferrari.
Mercedes's reaction has been warmer, and negotiations are known to have taken place, but the issue is complicated by Michael Schumacher's situation.
Lewis Hamilton is on the verge of leaving Mclaren to drive for Mercedes next season. Photo: Getty
Schumacher has not exactly been setting the world on fire this season, with the notable exception of qualifying fastest in Monaco, but at the same time Mercedes cannot be seen to be sacking him because of his status, particularly in Germany.
The German legend is of huge promotional value to Mercedes but the company is split on whether he should continue.
From a marketing point of view, he is a dream - and as he is considered untouchable in Germany any decision to move aside must appear to have come from him.
But those who see the F1 programme from a performance point of view would rather Schumacher stepped down and made way for someone younger and faster.
If they can replace him with someone of the highest calibre - someone such as Hamilton, for example - then that helps, too, as the decision is more easily understandable.
And it is clear after an increasingly uncompetitive season that the team could benefit from employing Hamilton, who is one of F1's 'big three' alongside Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, neither of whom are available.
The attraction Mercedes might have to Hamilton is less clear, given their current struggles, but perhaps the continuing frustrations of his time at McLaren have convinced him it is time for a change.
McLaren struggled by their own high standards in 2009-11, during which time Hamilton did not have a car competitive enough to mount a full-on title challenge.
They came closest in 2010, but it was always a battle against the generally faster Red Bull and Ferrari.
And although McLaren started this season with the fastest car - and have it again after a brief mid-season dip in form - operational errors earlier in the season hit Hamilton's title bid.
Money may well also be an important factor. Hamilton made some cryptic comments in Belgium last weekend about his future move being a "business decision".
Equally, there have been signs of friction between him and McLaren.
In certain quarters of the team, they are uncomfortable about Hamilton's approach to his job and his mindset. And the disconnect was made public this weekend with his ill-advised behaviour on the social networking site Twitter, on which he posted a picture of confidential team telemetry.
Where does that all leave McLaren, Mercedes and Hamilton? Time will tell.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/09/lewis_hamilton_move_would_not.html
Alex Yoong Alex Zanardi Emilio Zapico Ricardo Zonta Renzo Zorzi
Formula One Goes High Definition
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/formula-one-goes-high-definition/
Kenneth McAlpine Perry McCarthy Ernie McCoy Johnny McDowell Jack McGrath
Aston Martin DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo
Creating Vision Gran Turismo concept cars has become quite the habit among automakers, as they rushed to showcase their design skills and advanced powertrains in the latest iteration of the franchise. This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed brought yet another futuristic supercar to the game, this time from British-based company Aston Martin.
Dubbed DP-100 and developed in-house by a team led by Design Director Marek Reichman, the concept car highlights a brand-new approach for the company, as its engine is mounted behind the seats. The Brits have yet to build sports cars in this configuration, except for the B09/60 Le Mans prototype co-developed with Lola, and the DP-100 comes to put an end to that. At least in the virtual world.
The DP-100 joins a large batch of virtual supercars created for Gran Turismo 6 this year, and will be available for gamers to download starting July 2014. There are no production plans waiting to turn this virtual racer into a vehicle for the real world, but the DP-100 is a concept worth looking into from a design and technological point of view.
Click past the jump to read more about the Aston Martin DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo.
Aston Martin DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 June 2014 17:00 EST.
George Abecassis Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams Walt Ader
Button Steps Up Pre Season Training With Lance Armstrong
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/button-steps-up-pre-season-training-with-lance-armstrong/
Karl Gunther Bechem Jean Behra Derek Bell Stefan Bellof Paul Belmondo
Sunday, June 29, 2014
The Top TEN Pit-Lane ?Blunders?
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/NH_bOc0lymA/the-top-ten-pit-lane-blunders-3
Erwin Bauer Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem
LEC, Maki and more rare seventies cars at Goodwood | F1 pictures
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/HxsBpemAqz0/
Alexander Wurz Sakon Yamamoto Alex Yoong Alex Zanardi Emilio Zapico
Lamborghini Aventador gets radical styling from Liberty Walk
Denny Hulme James Hunt Jim Hurtubise Gus Hutchison Jacky Ickx
Robert Kubica Could Be Ruled Out For At Least A Year Following Accident
Eugene Martin Pierluigi Martini Jochen Mass Felipe Massa Cristiano da Matta
Mercedes-Benz SL "Avalange GT-R" By Piecha Design
When Mercedes released the latest generation of the SL-Class, some people thought that the designers may have erred a little bit too much on the side of making it look like the rest of the Benz lineup. Instead of fitting in with the legendary history of the SL nameplate, the latest version didn’t seem to excite buyers in quite the same way. Buyers worried that the recently-redesigned SLK-Class looked a little bit too much like its bigger brother, and while the SLK certainly benefited greatly from its most recent redesign, perhaps buyers of the over-$100,000 SL weren’t too excited about their car looking so much like a sub-$50,000 SLK.
Marcus Piecha was one of those people, and perceiving a reluctance to purchase the latest SL, he set about coming up with a solution. The Mercedes-Benz SL "Avalange GT-R" is exactly that, an aerodynamics and appearance package that he believes will make the Mercedes-Benz SL much more desirable.
Click past the jump to read more about the Mercedes-Benz SL "Avalange GT-R" By Piecha Design.
Mercedes-Benz SL "Avalange GT-R" By Piecha Design originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 28 June 2014 06:00 EST.
Rikky von Opel Karl Oppitzhauser Fritz d Orey Arthur Owen Carlos Pace
Jeff Gordon wins the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway
- Jeff Gordon wins at Phoenix to snap 66-race drought Jeff Gordon Ends Drought Jeff Gordon snaps 66-race winless...
- NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon gets new spotter starting at Pocono CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jeff Gordon will have a new spotter...
- Jeff Gordon confronts and shoves Jeff Burton after crash in Texas Gordon-Burton Post Sound Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton talk...
Source: http://doxcar.com/jeff-gordon-wins-the-nascar-sprint-cup-race-at-phoenix-international-raceway/
Ivor Bueb Sebastien Buemi Luiz Bueno Ian Burgess Luciano Burti
Audi Plans to Introduce Android Auto Connection Starting 2015
Audi just became more appealing to technophiles today after the company announced its integration of Google?s Android Auto, which was unveiled today at Google?s I/O annual technologies conference in San Francisco. Like Apple?s CarPlay, Android Auto will combine the user?s smartphone with their car?s in-dash infotainment system in a seamless manner that?s conducive for safe driving free of distractions.
Audi?s integration of Android Auto means a lot of new voice controls for Google Play Music, Google Maps, and other functions. Video and multimedia, along with text-rich items won?t be displayed while the car is in motion, but will become available when in Park.
The system comes alive when an Android smartphone is connected to a compatible Audi. A prompt appears asking if the user wants to display their apps through the MMI system. Once chosen to do so, the system basically uses the MMI screen as an interface for the smartphone. Audio streams and microphone inputs are all routed through the car.
What?s more, Audi says the Android Auto system will be available within a number of 2015 model year vehicles, meaning Android Auto-equipped Audis will be roaming the streets starting sometime this fall. Of course Audi ensures that Android Auto-equipped car will not prohibit users from connecting non-Android smartphones like iPhones or Blackberries, but the full functionality of the system won?t be accessible.
Click past the jump to read more about Audi’s Android Auto Connection.
Audi Plans to Introduce Android Auto Connection Starting 2015 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 28 June 2014 12:00 EST.
Desmond Titterington Johnnie Tolan Alejandro de Tomaso Charles de Tornaco Tony Trimmer
F1 WAG: Camille Marchetti
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/j-c0vNj5l_c/f1-wag-camille-marchetti-2
Willi Krakau Rudolf Krause Robert Kubica Kurt Kuhnke Masami Kuwashima
Renault and F1
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/renault-and-f1/
Mauri Rose Louis Rosier Ricardo Rosset Huub Rothengatter Basil van Rooyen
Saturday, June 28, 2014
F1 2011 Launch Catch Up ? McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Sauber, Toro Rosso, Renault?
Tom Belso JeanPierre Beltoise Olivier Beretta Allen Berg Georges Berger
McLaren M838T Engine Takes "Engine of the Year Award" in the "3 To 4 liter" Category
For the second consecutive year, McLaren Automotive has been awarded engine of the year, as it joins Ferrari as one of the winners of a 2014 Engine of the Year award. Ferrari won its awards in the "Above 4-Liter" class and as the "Performance Engine of the Year," while McLaren’s masterful 3.8-liter, twin-turbo, V-8 engine took home the award in the "3-Liter to 4-Liter" category, proving yet again that when it comes to engine innovation, the British supercar builder takes a back seat to no one.
The engine, technically named the "M838T," was designed and developed in collaboration with engine builder Ricardo. A big part of the M838T’s appeal is the way McLaren was able to modify its capabilities to produce a class-leading output of 640 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. More importantly, the engine not only produces supercar-level output numbers, but it’s also a highly efficient engine, capable of returning 24.2 mpg on the EU combined cycle.
McLaren uses the M838T engine in the coupe and spider versions of the McLaren 650S, the company’s newest supercar. If you didn’t know by now, the 650S is a whole lot of awesome. A big reason for its awesomeness is this 3.8-liter, V-8 engine that is described as a "wonderful piece of powertrain engineering."
Winning engine of the year in the "3-Liter to 4-Liter" category at the 2014 Engine of the Year awards is living proof of that.
Click past the jump to read more about the McLaren M838T.
McLaren M838T Engine Takes "Engine of the Year Award" in the "3 To 4 liter" Category originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 June 2014 10:00 EST.
Joie Chitwood Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham Jim Clark†
Time running out for Alonso
As Sebastian Vettel headed down the pit lane after winning the Indian Grand Prix, team-mate Mark Webber's Red Bull behind gave him a couple of little nudges as they headed to their correct parking places.
"I switched off the car," Vettel said. "I was told to park the car under the podium and I couldn't remember where it was from last year and Mark gave me a little bit of a push."
He added that he thought it was his "only mistake" of the day, which sounds about right.
The victory was his fourth in a row, a new achievement for the German despite his domination on the way to the world championship last year, and he has now led every racing lap since Lewis Hamilton's McLaren retired from the lead of the Singapore Grand Prix four races ago.
It also moves Vettel to one win short of the tally of Sir Jackie Stewart. At this rate, Vettel will not only pass the Scot's number of victories before the end of the year but join him as a three-time world champion as well.
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Vettel is still only 13 points ahead of his only remaining realistic rival, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, which is less than a driver earns for a third place, but it is the scale of Red Bull's current superiority that has led many to suspect the battle is already effectively over.
Vettel was fastest in every practice session in India and took yet another pole position. After the German's crushing wins in Japan and Korea, the only surprise at the Buddh International Circuit was that Red Bull's margin over the rest of the field was smaller than expected in qualifying.
In the race, though, Vettel was completely untouchable.
In the first 20 laps, he was not that much faster than team-mate Mark Webber in second place, and the Australian was being pretty much matched by Alonso.
But then Vettel cut loose, suddenly lapping 0.5 seconds faster than before. Team boss Christian Horner admitted that, not sure about tyre wear, Vettel had simply been measuring his pace in the opening third of the race.
Ferrari and McLaren both appeared to be in better shape after the single pit stops, more comfortable on the 'hard' tyre than the 'soft', but even then it was clear Vettel was in total control.
For the dispassionate observer wanting to see close racing, Red Bull's current form may be depressing, but it is hard not to admire what they have achieved this season.
For the first time in two years, they started the championship without a dominant car, and although they had strong race pace they were struggling to qualify at the front - the position from which they used to crush their opposition in 2011.
But they have worked away diligently at a series of upgrades aimed at allowing them to run the car as they did last year, and the breakthrough came in Singapore.
Further modifications came on stream in Japan and Korea and now Red Bull have a car that on pure pace is out of reach of their rivals.
It is the qualifying pace that is the key - start at the front and you can run in clear air, dictate the pace of the race, and are not affected by the turbulence of other cars. In this position, Vettel is close to unbeatable.
The start of the season, when there were seven different winners in seven races, seems a very long time ago.
Red Bull are a brilliant team, managed without compromise by Christian Horner and led by a genius designer in Adrian Newey, working in perfect harmony with a great driver. In many ways, it is similar to the way Lotus boss Colin Chapman and Jim Clark dominated the mid-1960s.
How they have done it, BBC F1 technical analyst Gary Anderson has expanded on in his column. For now, the problem for their rivals is what to do about it.
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
Alonso was as impressive in India as he has been all season, aggressive and inch perfect in the opening laps as he fought past both McLaren drivers, and relentless in his pursuit of Webber for second place.
The fact that the Spaniard passed the Australian was down to a degree of luck, it has to be said. Webber's Kers power-boost system was working only intermittently, and crucially he got held up behind some backmarkers, allowing Alonso to close to within one second - which meant he was within the margin that allows use of the DRS overtaking aid.
Once there, it took only two laps for Alonso to pass Webber, who without Kers, was defenceless on the long straight against a Ferrari with better straight-line speed anyway, and also employing Kers and DRS.
Nevertheless, to even keep the Red Bulls honest was quite an achievement by Alonso - no-one else was even close.
If there is such a thing as a driver 'deserving' the world title more than another, most people in F1 would say Alonso has been the stand-out competitor of the year.
As Lewis Hamilton put it in India: "Fernando unfortunately doesn't have as quick a car as Sebastian; it's nothing to do with his driving skills, that's for sure."
F1, though, is not purely a drivers' championship - he has to have a car, and at the moment Alonso is fighting an unequal battle with inferior equipment.
And in any case, Alonso himself would undoubtedly say that the driver who ends the season with the most points is the deserving champion.
Red Bull are now virtually certain to clinch a third consecutive constructors' title - indeed they seem likely to do so in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
For all Vettel's recent domination, though, in purely mathematical terms the drivers' championship remains wide open.
Thirteen points sounds a decent amount but the margin between Vettel and Alonso is, in F1's old scoring system abandoned only at the end of 2009, the equivalent of less than four points.
One retirement by Vettel, or a marginal improvement in the performance of Ferrari in the final three races, could tip the balance back in Alonso's favour. Time, though, is running out.
Alonso said on Sunday that the team did have improvements due in the next three races, and there was a hint in some of the other things he said over the weekend that the team expect them to amount to something more substantial than Ferrari have introduced for a while.
McLaren sporting director Sam Michael said on Sunday evening: "The performance can swing from one track to the other by a couple of tenths, and that's all there is in it at the moment - 0.2-0.3secs in terms of qualifying.
"And if you can have that performance, from the front row you have a better chance. So even if no-one upgraded their cars there would still be a reasonable chance that people could have a go at them.
"If Ferrari have a competitive car, then obviously Alonso can still do it."
In the context of the overpowering brilliance of Red Bull, though, that is a big if.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/10/time_running_out_for_alonso_in.html
Danny Ongais Rikky von Opel Karl Oppitzhauser Fritz d Orey Arthur Owen
Could Lotus switch to Mercedes power from 2015?
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/06/24/could-lotus-switch-to-mercedes-power-from-2015/
Dick Gibson Gimax Richie Ginther Yves GiraudCabantous Ignazio Giunti
Renault and F1
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/renault-and-f1/
Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux Peter Arundell Alberto Ascari Peter Ashdown
Ferrari Launch Their 2011 Car The F150
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/ferrari-launch-their-2011-car-the-f150/
Jim Clark† Kevin Cogan Peter Collins Bernard Collomb Alberto Colombo
F1: Renault: Heidfeld already leading team
- F1: Renault ‘very positive’ about Heidfeld Renault 'very positive' about Heidfeld By Matt Beer Saturday, February...
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Source: http://doxcar.com/f1-renault-heidfeld-already-leading-team/
Ivor Bueb Sebastien Buemi Luiz Bueno Ian Burgess Luciano Burti