Friday, September 30, 2011
Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
Following the tragedy that struck the country last March, the whole Formula One community is determined to put on an exemplary and thrilling race for our loyal and dedicated fans, many of whom have endured great hardships over the past six months.
Following the tragedy that struck the country last March, the whole Formula One community is determined to put on an exemplary and thrilling race for our loyal and dedicated fans, many of whom have endured great hardships over the past six months.
Kamui Kobayashi have invited 37 families as guests to the Japan GP.
Q. Last year you made a very special deal with the organisers - can you explain that?
Kamui Kobayashi: "Yes, this was decided before the disaster struck. I agreed with the organisers that for every championship point I scored in 2011 before the Japanese Grand Prix I would invite one family to the 2011 Suzuka race. We received more than 6,000 letters from people who wanted to come. Every time I scored points I would randomly pick out that number of letters, so now I have chosen 27 families this way. However, because we had such a big response I have picked out an extra ten, and this means I shall have 37 families as my guests."
Sauber's major upgrade for Japan was planned sometime ago and the team is confident it will be a big step forward.
James Key, Technical Director:
We will bring a wide ranging aero package for the car, which includes a completely new front wing, new rear wings, new turning vanes and side pod deflectors, new brake ducts and modifications to the floor. This was always planned for Suzuka and, if it all works well, it should give us a reasonable step forward.
We will bring a wide ranging aero package for the car, which includes a completely new front wing, new rear wings, new turning vanes and side pod deflectors, new brake ducts and modifications to the floor. This was always planned for Suzuka and, if it all works well, it should give us a reasonable step forward.
Schumacher hopes from strong performance in Japan next weekend.
Schumacher: I always enjoy the challenge of driving here and getting the technical set-up of the car right to get the best from the demanding layout of the track. A great first sector, high-speed turns, and interesting corner combinations all make Suzuka one of the best race tracks of the year, and definitely one of my favourites. We will be working hard to make the most of our weekend here, and hopefully we can come away with a strong performance and some more points.
Sauber wants to bounce back from some recent bad luck tech boss James Key said.
James Key: Obviously we want to bounce back from some recent bad luck.
Force India's upgrades for Singapore gave the car improved performance and it uses the tyres better says Paul Di Resta.
Paul Di Resta: The big thing was we came with an upgrade package that enabled us to gain performance in the race, and gain tyre life. What it said on the tin, it did. After missing Friday, no high fuel runs, going into the race completely unknown, it’s a big credit to the team, and we’ve worked very hard to try and achieve that.
Force India's upgrades for Singapore gave the car improved performance and it uses the tyres better says Paul Di Resta.
Paul Di Resta: The big thing was we came with an upgrade package that enabled us to gain performance in the race, and gain tyre life. What it said on the tin, it did. After missing Friday, no high fuel runs, going into the race completely unknown, it’s a big credit to the team, and we’ve worked very hard to try and achieve that.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Getting ready for a F1 race start is complicated says Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber.
Webber: There is a lot of work for the drivers to do as well. I cannot give too much away but there are a number of procedures to go through before we get going.When the lights go out, we quickly release one clutch paddle on the steering wheel and feed in a second gradually - that's the one the driver uses to modulate the grip of the rear wheels. This year, we have seen the biggest fluctuation in starts for years, which is purely down to the new Pirelli tyres and how they perform off the line.
Poor race starts have cost Webber possible victories this season and it is something he wants to improve.
Webber: It would have been nice to make it a one-two for Red Bull but I had another ropey start, which is becoming a bit of a broken record. I need to work on that aspect of my race because it is much harder to compete if you are on the back foot on the very first lap.
Sauber has confirmed a partnership with Amul, India’s largest milk brand for next month’s inaugural #IndianGP.
Ferrari will only slow Vettel down says F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.
Ecclestone: Well, seeing the situation as it is now it would be an appropriate means to slow him down…
Renault's Vitaly Petrov won the Russian GQ sportsman of the year award last week in Moscow.
Petrov: I was very honoured to be voted sportsman of the year by GQ magazine. Formula 1 was almost an unknown sport in Russia a few years ago and I’m glad to see that it is getting more popular every year. I’m very happy to be part of this process and I hope my future results will help raising even more awareness towards the sport ahead of the first Russian Grand Prix, in 2014. It’s been a long, hard season so far, but a very exciting too and we made hard work of it at some times. The wheels haven’t stopped turning yet and I promise to move forward and give you fans more reasons to be happy.
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner very impressed with Vettel.
Horner: I was particularly impressed with how he showed his critics how the wind blows. All those who always claimed that he's not a real racer but somebody who prefers to bag points had to rub their eyes after seeing his courageous overtaking of Alonso in Monza. Right now he's the driver who sets the pattern. He's got immense speed and breath-taking consistency.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
OfficialMGP MERCEDES GP PETRONAS
The upcoming high speed tracks will show the progress Mercedes GP has made recently says team boss Ross Brawn.
Brawn: So far the numbers look like we have moved forward and I think we will see the benefit in the next couple of races in particular, so it looks okay.
Schumacher can't go on like this says retired F1 champion Damon Hill.
Hill: Michael is now 42; in my opinion it’s too old to be competitive, plus he doesn’t have a car for the top positions. He can’t go on like this for much longer.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
F1 will be very positive for the earth quack hit Japan says Konayashi
Konayashi: The Grand Prix is a very big event in Japan, it is something very positive for the people and for the country, and also because of the international awareness the race brings. It makes people happy, and they do enjoy Formula 1 a lot. So we are going racing there, as we have done in previous years, despite the tragedy that has hit the country.
HRT happy that both cars made it to the end in Singapore
HRT boss Colin Kolles: We knew it was going to be a tough race and it has been, but we achieved the main objective of the team that was crossing the finish line with both cars.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Singapore was Renault's Sporting Director Steve Nielsen's last race with the team
Eric Boullier, Renault team principal
I would like to wish Steve Nielsen, our Sporting Director, all the best for the future. Steve has been with the team for more than 10 years and today was his last race with us.
I would like to wish Steve Nielsen, our Sporting Director, all the best for the future. Steve has been with the team for more than 10 years and today was his last race with us.
Webber up against the best driver in the world says team boss Christian Horner.
Horner on Webber: He is up against the best driver in the world at the moment.Take nothing away from Mark, he is a world-class driver, it is just Sebastian has upped the level to such a phenomenal height.At a track that has not particularly suited him over the years, he did a really good job, making a couple of good passes on Fernando.
Jackie Stewart says Hamilton's serial incidents not a sign of a great driver.
Jackie Stewart: I am a bit confused because he certainly knows how to drive and has a very large amount of natural talent. But if he is going to be a great driver he cannot have serial incidents. And none of the great drivers ever drove in that fashion.
Button could have won the race in Singapore but backmarkers made it impossible says team boss Martin Whitmarsh.
Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal on Button
He controlled his pace faultlessly, looked after his tyres brilliantly, and then attacked the Marina Bay circuit with total commitment at the end when aggression rather than circumspection was called for. But for a bit of bad luck in the form of a few backmarkers whom he encountered at precisely the inopportune moment, he could well have snatched a truly sensational victory.
He controlled his pace faultlessly, looked after his tyres brilliantly, and then attacked the Marina Bay circuit with total commitment at the end when aggression rather than circumspection was called for. But for a bit of bad luck in the form of a few backmarkers whom he encountered at precisely the inopportune moment, he could well have snatched a truly sensational victory.
Button wants to win in Japan after coming second in Singapore.
Button: I’ve had a run of podium finishes recently, so I’d really love to finish one step higher at the next race!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Vettel says this year's Red Bull Racing car is not as good as last year's car.
I would say that this year’s car is not as strong as last season’s one, but we were able to learn a lot from the last two seasons, especially when it comes to keeping cool within the team and maintaining concentration. So even if things were not running so well at a particular race, we were still able to score as many points as possible.
Mercedes GP upgrades could give the team a boost in Singapore says Rosberg.
Rosberg: We’ve brought some new parts so my gut feeling is that there could be something for us this weekend, even though the track characteristics are probably not so much in our favour. Of course I am not entitled to say what’s new, but I would say to watch out.
Red Bull Racing eye Jenson Button for the future.
Red Bull Boss Christian Horner: It has been a poor spell for Lewis, but for Jenson Button you can see a driver at ease with himself and his driving reflects that.
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner says the team did not breached the Resource Restriction Agreement last year.
Christian Horner: It's false, absolutely false. We agreed the scope, we worked within the scope. Job done! We've worked within the RRA, within the regulations that exist. It saved us money, saved the teams money. Unfortunately the consequence of success is people will throw stones.
Barrichello not worried about rumours suggesting Raikkonen will replace him at Williams in 2012.
Barrichello: Right now is a big time for rumours and there is no point. My Twitter [account] is going crazy with people asking things.Whatever people say about me is not true, so I cannot rely on other information about other drivers. Whenever I meet with my family, they ask me crazy things that they read in the press. To say something now will make more fuss.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Vettel says Alonso's defense at Monza was borderline, but that he gave him enough room and that there are no issues.
Vettel: It was borderline. I knew if I had to get past I had to do something. It was more critical the lap before, when he moved under braking and there wasn't much room. We talked about it after the race and it is fine. Generally if you race someone like Fernando, who has experience and you respect a lot, you can push the limits and go wheel to wheel without thinking about, because they know you are there and they will give you room, not a lot, but enough.
Vettel not thinking about the title this weekend, but wants to do the best he can.
Vettel: Would, could, should... so far we haven't won anything. We are in a good position but still have some way to go. We have to race and doing our normal job, try to achieve our best. It is one of the most difficult tracks for cars and drivers, it is a long way to the chequered flag.
Liuzzi not worried about HRT tech boss Geoff Willis' departure from the team.
Liuzzi: It's a shame that we lost Geoff because I was working well with him. But the team principal [Colin Kolles] has got a clear picture in his head and I am confident that it is the right plan.
Vettel has matured as a driver says Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.
Alonso: He's driving fantastically. I think this year he has made no mistakes or very few mistakes. Last year we had a bigger chance. I think the Red Bull was very dominant also last year but had some trouble in some races. This year they improved all those problems. The car is as quick as last year. He has finished all the races. I think he's the only driver who has finished all the races, and plus he's driving very, very well. When you have a dominant car it's easy to get a pole position or win a race, but there's been some occasions this year when the conditions were very tricky like Canada or Silverstone and he managed to pull a perfect lap in qualifying and a perfect race from the start to the end. So in general he has been the best driver, and the best team and the best package, so they deserve to be where they are.
Singapore extremely hard on the drivers says McLaren's Jeson Button.
Button: Mentally it's very tiring because it's low speed, like Monaco in a way with the barriers so close to the circuit, very bumpy, dark, so it's very demanding for the drivers. We find it very, very tough, and after the race you are shattered, in pieces. It's one of the races we actually think is a little too long, that they need to maybe shorten. We do as much as we can physically, but you can't train for the bumpiness of the circuit, so it's tough for us. I do a lot of work in a hot climate beforehand. This year I was in Japan where it's very humid at the moment, which is great, perfect for Singapore.
McLaren says they have an after action review process which is very thorough to eradicate any issue which occurs.
McLaren MD Jonathan Neale: We do that every time there is any kind of incident, whether technical, operational, decision making, whatever it is... The after-action review process is very thorough and we always try to eliminate those things. But we have to remember that it’s not a case of being risk averse. Formula One - be it the engineering team, the operational team or the driver - is about pushing really hard and taking risks. It’s very, very easy - as my colleagues in other teams will attest - to slip. We are dissatisfied if we are not winning.
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