Red Bull RB7 launch pictures (1st of February)

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Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel presented their 2011 car, the RB7 to the media at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain on 1 February 2011.

Chief technical officer Adrian Newey explained some of the changes from the championship winning RB6 and the new RB7:

“Preparing for the new season has been an interesting challenge for all of us,” he says. “There have been a number of changes to the regulations and while they are not as comprehensive as the changes for 2009, the major differences – such a the re-introduction of the KERS system and the arrival of a moveable rear wing to aid overtaking – have meant that RB7 is quite different to last year’s car.

“However, what we have done is taken the philosophy of continuing evolution. We have evolved RB6, which itself was an evolution of 2009’s RB5, and this is, if you like, the third generation of a successful lineage.”


Technical specifications
Chassis carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque, designed and built in-house, carrying engine as fully stressed member
Suspension (front) Aluminium alloy uprights, carbon-composite double wishbones with springs and anti-roll bar, push rod-actuated multimatic dampers
Suspension (rear) as front, except pull rod-actuated rear dampers
Engine Renault RS27-2011 2,400 cc (146.5 cu in) 90° V8, limited to 18,000 RPM naturally aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission Seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox with reverse gear Hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation
Weight 640 kg (1,411 lb) (including driver)
Fuel Total
Tyres Pirelli P Zero

OZ Wheels (front and rear): 13"

Link
Red Bull RB7 – Open Fronted Exhaust Blown Diffuser (Scarbsf1's Blog)
"Despite rule changes Newey has found the loophole that allows exhausts to blow inside the diffuser for more downforce. Although the rules were revised for 2011 to try to prevent double diffuser and openings to allow the exhaust to blow inside the diffuser. The rules did permit openings in the outer 5cm of the diffuser, an area where teams have recently split the floor and created raised lip, coincidentally a practice first exploited by Newey on the RB5."

Red Bull RB7 launch pictures







Photos © Red Bull Racing/Getty Images

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/to5ODaYY2v4/red-bull-rb7-launch-pictures-31st-of.html

Jimmy Bryan Clemar Bucci Ronnie Bucknum Ivor Bueb Sebastien Buemi

BMW M3 CRT fastest M car at Sachsenring - Autobild

If you're a BMW M fan, German print magazine Autobild has put together the mother of all comparisons. Autobild has taken all current BMW M models and set them all against each other on the Sachsenring in Germany.

Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/KDvxMrXbafI/bmw-m3-crt-fastest-m-car-at-sachsenring---autobild

Duke Dinsmore Frank Dochnal Jose Dolhem Martin Donnelly Carlo Abate

What now for Buemi and Alguersuari?

With Toro Rosso having thrown the babies out with the bathwater, on the orders of Red Bull in Austria, there is not much hope for either Sebastien Buemi or Jaime Alguersuari. The Spaniard will no doubt go looking for HRT – wherever that may be at the moment – and would be a logical choice [...]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/what-now-for-buemi-and-alguersuari/

Kevin Cogan Peter Collins Bernard Collomb Alberto Colombo Erik Comas

Kimi Raikkonen: My hunger for Formula 1 is ‘overwhelming’

After it was confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen would return to Formula 1 next year, the former World Champion has been speaking about his decision. The 32-year-old has signed a two-year deal with Renault (who will become Lotus in 2012) to return to the sport he left in 2009. Speaking about his decision to return, Raikkonen [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/Em_ZXJHdiFM/kimi-raikkonen-my-hunger-for-formula-1-is-overwhelming

Bob Bondurant Felice Bonetto Jo Bonnier Roberto Bonomi Juan Manuel Bordeu

F1 2011 Launch Catch Up – McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Sauber, Toro Rosso, Renault…

Catching up on the launches in one mega post.  Here in you’ll find quick interviews with senior members of the team and photos from the Red Bull, Sauber, Renault Lotus, Toro Rosso, Mercedes and McLaren launches. Apologies for being somewhat late, the whole blog isn’t running at full power until the season starts again. Red [...]

Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/f1-2011-launch-catch-up-mclaren-mercedes-red-bull-sauber-toro-rosso-renault/

Red Amick Chris Amon Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti

Campaign launched to save Team Lotus


© Save Team Lotus
One side of the Lotus naming dispute has been put forward on a new and in-depth webpage called www.saveteamlotus.com. The basic background is that the Lotus Racing F1 team had its naming rights revoked for next season by Group Lotus and, in order to keep racing under the Lotus name, bought the Team Lotus brand off David Hunt, who had owned it since the original team’s last race in 1994. Group Lotus has now taken Lotus Racing to court to try and stop it using the historic name in Formula One next year. The issue has been a source of constant confusion for many fans and the new webpage offers a breakdown of David Hunt’s and Team Lotus’ side of the argument.

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/campaign_launched_to_save_team_1.php

Bobby Ball Marcel Balsa Lorenzo Bandini Henry Banks Fabrizio Barbazza

Toro Rosso STR6 Launch pictures ( 1st of February)

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Scuderia Toro Rosso presented the media their brand new STR6 in the pitlane of the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, on 1 February 2011.

The STR6 is basically the second car, after its predecessor the STR5, that was completely designed by Scuderia Toro Rosso, following the introduction of regulations that banned the use of "customer chassis", a chassis developed by one team and purchased by another.

Technical specifications

Chassis carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front) Upper and lower carbon wishbones, torsion bar springs and anti-roll bars, Sachs dampers
Suspension (rear) as front
Engine Ferrari Type 056 2,400 cc (146.5 cu in) 90° V8, limited to 18,000 RPM with KERS naturally aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission Seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox with reverse gear
Weight 640 kg (1,411 lb) (including driver)
Fuel Shell V-Power
Tyres Pirelli P Zero

Advanti Wheels (front and rear): 13"

Link
Toro Rosso STR06 – Double Floor (Scarbsf1's Blog)
"Scuderia Toro Rosso (STR) launched their car on the first day of the Valencia test. It’s significance has been somewhat lost amongst the fanfare of the front running teams cars and the innovation of the midfield runners. However the new STR06 deserves more attention, as it has some unique aerodynamic concepts that are drawing praise from other teams engineers. STR have been able to reduce the cooling and packaging demands placed on the sidepods. Thus with a smaller sidepod envelope, the team have revived an old concept from Ferrari, the double floor."

Toro Rosso STR6 Launch pictures






Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/WO0Sa9gFiT0/toro-rosso-str6-launch-pictures-1st-of.html

Carlo Abate George Abecassis Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams

Alonso the new favourite


Fernando Alonso is the new favourite for the title © Getty Images
Fernando Alonso is the new favourite to win the Formula One drivers’ title, said David Coulthard in his column for The Telegraph.
“He is the man with the momentum and, on the same basis that I backed Mark Webber to win the title before Korea, is now my favourite to claim the world title in Abu Dhabi on Nov 14. “When the cars are so evenly-matched you have to back the man in possession. Especially when that man is a two-time world champion and arguably the finest driver of his generation.”
The Mirror’s Byron Young drew comparisons between Alonso and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher as the Spaniard bids to become the sport’s youngest ever triple world champion.
“Like Schumacher, Alonso accepts no opposition within his team. Ultimately he fell out with McLaren over their refusal in 2007 to bring Lewis Hamilton to heel. “He returned to Renault on condition he was No.1, only to be at the centre of the Singapore cheat scandal - engineered to hand him victory. “The Spaniard has always denied involvement but at the German GP in July he was brazen enough to radio Ferrari to rein in team-mate Felipe Massa so he could start the winning streak that has taken him to the brink of history.”

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/10/alonso_the_new_favourite_1.php

Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia

Williams FW33 2011 Livery pictures (24th of February)

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Williams F1 Team on Thursday, revealed the livery for its 2011 car, the FW33 during an event broadcasted online. Their interim livery had made its debut at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, on 1 February.

The Williams FW33 2011 livery was released on 24 February, adding white, silver and red to the existing dark blue in a design directly inspired by the Rothmans livery used from 1994 to 1997.

Reigning GP2 champion and rookie driver Pastor Maldonado joined Sam Michael at the event. Maldonado's co-driver, veteran Rubens Barrichello was not present at the event as he was celebrating his 14th wedding anniversary with wife Silvana.

The most visible name on the car is that of energy company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), which joined the Williams F1 boat after the British squad signed Pastor Maldonado for the 2011 season. In addition, the new livery also comprises the name of temporary employment company Randstad.

Williams has also announced a new partnership for the 2011 season of Formula 1 with one of Britain's most acclaimed chefs Michael Caines (who will join the team with responsibilities in the hospitality area).

The British chef, who received 2 Michelin stars some 12 years ago and has retained them ever since, said,

"I am thrilled to be involved with the AT&T Williams team as an official partner and to help them develop their already high standards of hospitality.

(...) It is a prestigious relationship and something we are very excited about and proud of. I am a petrolhead at heart and I’m passionate about Formula One. I have followed Williams over many years so for me this involvement is just brilliant"


A touch of nostalgia!
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Williams FW33
Williams FW18 Renault

Links

Williams unveil definitive 2011 race livery (The Official F1)
"Williams’ technical director Sam Michael was in attendance at the unveiling and spoke to the assembled media about the theory behind the technicalities of the car’s design. Michael drew particular attention to the compact nature of the FW33’s rear end."


Williams FW33 2011 Livery pictures









Sponsor logos on the Williams FW33






Photos © Williams/LAT

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/VDQ--D6KqpU/williams-fw33-2011-livery-pictures-24th.html

Olivier Beretta Allen Berg Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard

Robert Kubica Hospitalised Following Rally Accident

UPDATE ON KUBICA’s CONDITION:  http://wp.me/p3uiu-11K Renault Lotus F1 driver Robert Kubica has been airlifted to hospital following a car accident while competing on a rally. The incident, described as a high speed accident, left the Pole injured and he had to be airlifted to hospital.  His co-driver Jakub Gerber was uninjured in the incident. While [...]

Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/robert-kubica-hospitalised-following-rally-accident/

Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla Toni Branca Gianfranco Brancatelli Eric Brandon