Crown

Drove by the Austin track site a couple of weeks ago and there's been a huge amount of work done in the past few months. First photo is from the outside of turn one, looking down the hill. It's 130 feet of altitude from just before the final turn up to turn one. The structure is the pit building.

This is looking up the hill toward turn one. No word on when they start laying the track -- the track "structure" is actually 10 feet deep.

"I don't mean to brag, but I am really good at self-deprecation."

Some initial thoughts from James Allen's blog on the new RBR and on the McLaren

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/02/red-bull-unveil-the-car-they-all-have-to-beat/

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Jerez testing 1st day live commentary

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/16914962

http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/435

Raikkonen quickest in the morning

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97384

Driver info for Tuesday's tests

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7493108/Testing-up-and-running-in-Jerez

Petrov struggling to get a seat ... sponsors are indecisive

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7493364/Slow-sponsors-leave-Petrov-in-limbo

Alguersuari had been 'orally' confirmed at Toro Rosso but was then dropped ... HRT would have been unbearable for him ... Williams IMO only want pay drivers

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7492926/Jaime-RBR-went-back-on-their-word

Williams launches 2012 car

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/16924854
 

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Jerez Day 2 Testing Live Commentary

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/16941418

http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/436

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/7496074/Schumacher-Sets-Early-Pace-In-Jerez
 

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Newey has no plans to leave RBR ever

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/16929993

Webber feels good about the new RBR, isn't affected by the parts delay on Day 1

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97401

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7496172/Webber-Hungry-for-success

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7494358/Webber-unfazed-by-delayed-start

Raikkonen happy with how the new car feels .. laptimes at this stage are unimportant ... yeah right, that's why he topped the timesheets on his first day back ...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97404

Bouillier expects Raikkonen to be back to his best by the start of the European races

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7495373/Boullier-eyes-European-success-for-Kimi

The possibility of some controversy over blown exhausts is still there as teams try to find other ways to use exhaust gases

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97400

Ferrari pleased but there's a lot of work to do

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97399

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7495232/Ferrari-to-continue-experimenting

Button happy with progress on Day 1, unfazed by McLaren's nose (that differs from everyone else's design)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97398

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/7495008/Jense-Unfazed-By-MP4-27-s-Nose

Pirelli thinks ugly cars could be a turn off

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97412
 

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Jerez Testing Videos

Kimi isolation

Dear lord, these new stepped noses are HEINOUS!

I thought I was upset when the regs changed in 2009 and the cars went all boxy and boring lines no longer being able to swoopy aero bits and turning vanes. This only ratchets up the ugly factor.

Day 2.

Nice slides by Schumi @ :25 seconds

Live Day 3 Text Commentary from Jerez

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/16959835

http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/437
 

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Webber fastest on Day 2 in a 2012 car. Looks like RBR will again be the team to beat but it's still too early to tell ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/16953296

Di Resta on Day 2. Complaining about the wind ... but it's the same for everyone Paul ;)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97434

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7496293/Plenty-of-positives-for-Di-Resta

McLaren happy they have a car they can work with and build on (unlike during 2011 pre-season testing)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97432

McLaren insists it has not made a mistake in not choosing a nose design like the other teams

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97431

HRT moving from Valencia to Madrid

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97425

Pirelli's 2009 Toyota test car is now too different from today's cars and regs to be able to provide good data

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97436

Surely the teams realise it's in their interests to cooperate with the tyre manufacturer?

Schumi quickest on Day 2 but in a 2011 car

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/02/jerez-test-day-2-schumacher-rolls-back-the-years/

Schumi thinks it's unlikely that Mercedes will build a championship winning car in 2012. Now there's optimism ...

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/7498373/Schumi-Plays-Down-Merc-s-Title-Chances

Schumi happy to see Raikkonen back in F1

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/7496845/Schumi-Good-To-Have-Kimi-Back

A double-edged sword if you ask me. The fact that another former champ is making a comeback makes Schumi's decision look even more justified. But this could easily work against Schumi if Raikkonen does well in his comeback after a gap of 2 years. Schumi, by comparison, has been a pale shadow of what he was and he has really struggled against Rosberg. If Raikkonen excels, it will merely add to the feeling that Schumi should make 2012 his last season.

Massa says Ferrari has a lot of work to do on the car

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7497347/Massa-F2012-needs-a-lot-of-work

Sutil to appeal against conviction for GBH on Eric Lux. Prosecutors may seek a stiffer penalty. Will Hamilton have to give evidence at this appeal hearing? Will he be prepared to do so after Sutil's comments alleging cowardice?

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/02/sutil-to-appeal-against-gbh-sentence/
 

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Alonso lost a couple of hours during testing today due to a hydraulic system problem. Ferrari won't be panicking but they clearly have a lot of work to do on their car.

I can't believe Force India gave the car to Bianchi today before Hulkenberg had a chance to drive it. Bianchi damaged it and replacement parts will need to be flown in overnight.. Hulkenberg lost half a day's testing, Force India lost almost a complete day's testing. Only 1 more day left tomorrow. Hulkenberg must be so frustrated.

What's interesting so far is that the gap between the 2011 Mercedes and the 2012 Lotus isn't huge. Obviously, no one knows what fuel loads they were choosing but it looks encouraging that some of the performance lost from the banning of blown exhausts has been found elsewhere.

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Exciting to see and hear F1 again. Always means winter is as good as done with. Now we just needs the winds from Spain.

Latest rumor: Fiat is posed to join F1 next season because they already have a car that complies to the nose regulations...

^^^LMAO! Nice.

ROFL

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Some UK politicians are calling for the Bahrain GP to be called off

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/02/politicians-in-uk-call-for-bahrain-gp-to-be-called-off/

Day 3 testing summary

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/02/jerez-test-day-3-rosberg-on-top-but-grosjean-and-lotus-going-well/
 

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

HAHAHAHAHA   LOL

Live day 4 text commentary from Jerez

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/16978375

http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/438

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Vettel says it's too early to say how the 2012 RBR will compare with other cars ... of course, that's true since it's only day 4 of the 1st test ... but I'm sure he will have formed his own initial feeling of how the car feels to drive. F1 drivers often say that they can quickly tell whether the car is a good or bad one right from the start.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97455

The laptimes were close on Day 3 between Hamilton and Vettel.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/16972087

Very refreshing to read some straightforward comments from Raikkonen. He tells it how it is.

He said he didn't like DRS since it makes overtaking too easy but it provides a good show ;)

"Driving with a heavier car is slightly different and it's not like day and night. I do not have to learn to drive again. It's still the same sport". Characteristic bluntness :)

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7499579/Kimi-unimpressed-by-DRS

Grosjean grabs the attention with some very quick laptimes on Day 3 in the Lotus.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97457

But it means little. It's only the first test. In 2011, Williams were consistently one of the quickest teams in testing and then had their worst season in their team's history.

Speaking of Williams, Senna is feeling good about the car but wants it be more 'edgy'. I assume he wants it to be more responsive to steering inputs with sharper turn-in etc.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97459

Vergne feeling good about the 2012 Toro Rosso car

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97465

Perez also feels good about the 2012 Sauber car

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97466

Massa's manager says we will see a different Massa. He may try harder in order to keep his seat but I doubt his results will improve.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7498740/-We-ll-see-a-different-Massa-

If the 2012 Ferrari had been quick from the start, Massa might have stood a chance. However, the 2012 has serious issues that need fixing. You can bet that they will fix these issues by developing the car in the way Alonso needs it. That will put Massa at a bigger disadvantage as the first race approaches and then as the season develops.

Massa should take as many photos and videos clips of each race on his mobile phone. I don't expect him to be at Ferrari beyond 2012 and he might not even last the whole season. If it's truly a dire season for Massa, Ferrari may give his replacement a few races this year before the full 2013 season gets underway.

Pat Fry not happy with progress so far. Ferrari's Communications Director was quick to downplay this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/16974981

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/7500983/Ferrari-F2012-Still-A-Work-In-Progress

Hamilton feels good to be back driving ... has noticed the lack of rear grip due to the ban on blown exhausts

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7499994/Hamilton-It-s-good-to-be-back

Hamilton often commented in 2011 on Button being surrounded by supportive people. So, under the official description of having Didier Coton joining his 'management team', Hamilton is now paying Coton to be his friend and confidante at each race so that he has someone to offload onto. Reminds me of Japan where there is now a trend to hire friends by the hour ... like a taxi. This is very weird. Maybe Hamilton doesn't realise that Button has his father and girlfriend at each race because they care about him not because they are being paid to be there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/16974818

Key quotations:

"It was not necessarily having someone who knows more about Formula 1, but having someone there who I can offload a lot of stuff to. Last year I didn't always have someone there. I wanted to make it our goal to make sure we have someone there at grands prix. And we have Didier."

"Didier's been a good friend of mine for many years and he's got great experience of my team and the F1 paddock."

"I thought it would be good to have him just there when I need him. That's generally what he's there for."

What does this say about Hamilton's relationship with Nicole Scherzinger. She wasn't always there because they had split up and because she had career commitments of her own. Clearly he needs more consistent support than she can give him. It doesn't surprise me. I heard her on a TV interview and she seems unintelligent so one questions what good sense she can bring to his life.

Bianchi apologises for damaging the car on Day 3

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7500692/Bianchi-admits-crash-was-his-fault

You can bet Hulkenberg will make sure he drives the car before Bianchi at the next test in Barcelona on 21 Feb ;)

HRT will miss Jerez and 1st Barcelona test since it has failed FIA crash tests. You would think HRT would get something as basic as that correct.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7500898/HRT-forced-to-delay-debut
 

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

The best analysis I've read following the end of the Jerez test. This is Andrew Benson's BBC F1 blog. Very revealing insights IMO.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/02/f1_pre-season_testing_provides.html

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

James Allen's post Jerez analysis

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/02/looking-for-clues-from-jerez-test/

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Alonso says Ferrari knows 20% of what they need to know about the car following Jerez. He expects the team to learn the remainder at the next test at Barcelona.

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/7517908/Fernando-20-Percent-And-Counting...

Renault says its engines may develop 15hp less than Mercedes but it consumes 15-18 litres less over race distance.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7518314/-Renault-power-needs-less-gas-

Sauber doesn't think any of the other teams have made any game-changing technological breakthroughs this season.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7517694/Sauber-No-revolutionary-inventions

Caterham aiming for its first F1 point on merit (not through other's misfortune)

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7505489/Fernandes-Exceeded-my-expectations
 

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Lotus pleased with Raikkonen

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/7519794/Lotus-Bosses-Sing-Raikkonen-s-Praises

Mercedes launching at Barcelona test

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7520824/Merc-confirm-launch-date

Mateschitz: Webber will have equal chance to win

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7518620/Mateschitz-Webber-will-have-equal-status

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

easy_rider911:

Mateschitz: Webber will have equal chance to win

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7518620/Mateschitz-Webber-will-have-equal-status

This guy should stick to energy drinks and pay the bills instead of thinking he can patronise F1 fans with statements like that...

Carlos from Spain:

easy_rider911:

Mateschitz: Webber will have equal chance to win

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7518620/Mateschitz-Webber-will-have-equal-status

This guy should stick to energy drinks and pay the bills instead of thinking he can patronise F1 fans with statements like that...

throt

"I didn't do it"

It's still very early to know whose car will be reliable, quick etc.

I expect RBR to be quickest by some margin despite the reliability problems they had at Jerez.

It's tough to tell whether Lotus really has caught up (and even overtaken McLaren and Ferrari). Raikkonen's arrival appears to have given the team a real boost in terms of driver input and morale.

McLaren could have a reliable car that perhaps lacks some pace. Let's see.

Ferrari could be quick eventually this season but whether or not they will be quick from the first race is anyone's guess.

We simply don't know anything yet about the 2012 Mercedes car. All we know is that the 2011 car worked pretty well at Jerez :)

The midfield is IMO probably made up of Force India and Toro Rosso.

I think Sauber, Williams and Caterham are probably in a chasing group after that.

And Marussia and HRT are at the very back of the grid.

At least, this is how it looks to me right now but obviously it's impossible to know these things for sure.

Whatever happens, I just hope it's a great season that we will all enjoy :)

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

Caterham moving from Norfolk to Oxfordshire during mid 2012

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97528

People were protesting (even rioting) in Bahrain yesterday on the first anniversary of the pro-democracy protests. Riot police were deployed. And the only official announcement I heard from a Bahraini government official was that the F1 race would still be on.

It's staggering IMO that the only thing the Bahraini ruling family cares about is hosting its luxurious race in the dessert. The ruling family doesn't appear to care about its people. It commissioned an independent enquiry into what happened last year and then it seems to have cherry-picked recommendations for implementation. One would assume these were only the reforms that were easy to adopt and acceptable to the ruling family. Call me cynical but the appointment of the enquiry and the adoption of a few insignificant reforms was designed just to make it look like the ruling family was doing something ... so that the race could return. If the uprising intensifies, you can bet that the Bahraini government will ask for troops from Saudi to help suppress the protestors again, like they did last year in a ruthless military campaign.

F1 is sport. Going to Bahrain and pretending it's business as usual doesn't sit well with my conscience as a F1 fan. A ruling family (which is Sunni) is ruling undemocratically over a majority Shia population that is treated like second class citizens in their own country with no legal means of changing this situation.

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/7522507/Bernie-Sticks-To-His-Guns-Over-Bahrain

Early feedback from Lotus's Alan Permane is that the car is reliable and responds well to small adjustments making it a good base to work with and easily adjustable as the season progresses.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7521266/Lotus-delighted-with-E20-s-reliability

Q&A with Hulkenberg

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7522729/Q-A-with-Nico-Hulkenberg

Vergne planning to keep the tension low with his team mate. Both will be targetting a promotion to a RBR in 2013 is Webber leaves at the end of 2012.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/7521070/Vergne-hopes-to-keep-tension-low

I think this is unlikely. One of the rookies would have to be absolutely outstanding (like another Vettel) for this to happen. RBR wants to win not only the Drivers' Title but also the Constructors' Title. They need both drivers to be getting big points consistently each race for this. A driver with only 1 year of rookie experience (by the time 2013 comes along) is unlikely to be good enough. I think Webber knows this and may decide to delay his departure for this reason. Alternatively, I suspect RBR will look elsewhere for experience and keep Vergne and Ricciardo at Toro Rosso for a couple of years at least (like they did with Buemi and Alguersuari) to let them develop and gain experience and to evaluate their potential properly before considering them for a promotion.

Vergne thinks Toro Rosso is among the strongest midfield teams.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97530

997.1 C2S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen pickup, BMW Z4 2.5i Roadster Sterling Grey/Red

So it appears Lotus is making the biggest progress? Would be very interesting, likely closely fighting with Renault this season.

I expect subgroups as follows:

RBR/Ferrari

Mercedes/McLaren

Renault/F.India/Lotus

Sauber/ToroRosso/Williams