FORMULA 1 - 2013

[MIKA27]

Pirelli set to give Kobayashi 2013 testing role

Axed Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi looks set to spend the 2013 season testing tyres with Formula 1′s official supplier Pirelli.

The Italian marque has invited the media to its Milan headquarters on Wednesday for the launch of the sport’s 2013 tyres and a press conference “with Pirelli’s main motor sport protagonists”.

The French sources F1i and Eurosport are reporting that Japanese Kobayashi, the former Sauber driver, should be announced as the main Pirelli tester for this year.

An Italian source is reporting the same.

Late last year, when 26-year-old Kobayashi was mentioned as a possible test driver for 2013, Pirelli’s Paul Hembery answered: “It’s a possibility.

“We’ll see what happens with him. I imagine he’s still trying to get a (race) seat, so we’ll wait.”

Kobayashi reports wrong as Pirelli retain Alguersuari

Reports on Wednesday that axed Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi would be unveiled as Pirelli’s new Formula One tyre test driver were wide of the mark.

The Italian marque’s Paul Hembery said in Milan that, so long as the contract to supply tyres to F1 teams is extended beyond 2013, Jaime Alguersuari and Lucas di Grassi will almost certainly keep their jobs this year.

Spaniard Alguersuari, however, wasn’t confirming the news.

“Sorry, I haven’t confirmed my future yet,” he wrote on Twitter. “I’m still working on it so I can give you news soon. Sorry for the delay.”

Hembery thinks staying would be a good move for Alguersuari.

“Jaime learned more in one day of testing with Pirelli than he did in his entire career with Toro Rosso,” he is quoted by Spain’s AS newspaper.

As Pirelli launched its new, softer and faster tyres for 2013, Briton Hembery insisted: “There is no reason for us to change our drivers.

“We have had a great time with Alguersuari and di Grassi,” he is quoted by Brazil’s Totalrace. “We need to renew our contract with F1 first, and then we’ll go ahead.”

Hembery said the 2013 generation Pirelli will require drivers to make more pitstops and promote more overtaking, while the identification colour for the hard tyre has been changed from grey to orange.

But when asked about this year’s tyres, Fernando Alonso said on Twitter on Wednesday: “They are practically the same as in 2012.”

Hembery also said this that year’s GP2 champion will win an F1 test with Pirelli, and that the marque will keep the 2010 Renault as its F1 test car.

“There is not the need to get a newer model, since the cars in 2014 will be completely different to the current ones,” he said.

[MIKA27]

F1 dream over as Valencia street circuit crumbles

Valencia’s Formula One foray as host to the European Grand Prix is apparently over, with a Spanish newspaper reporting that the once glamourous street circuit is now falling into serious ruin and disrepair.

The chances that the former harbour-side venue will return to the calendar in the future therefore seem slim, as Marca newspaper has published images that suggest that the facility is no longer even subject to a minimum of maintainance.

Thieves have stripped the circuit infrastructure of any valuable items like electronic control boxes, while an access tunnel is completely flooded by standing water.

“A bridge that cost two million euros is now used only by vagrants,” read the report.

The pit boxes have been “ransacked”, manholes stripped of their covers, and wires pulled out of light posts.

The last grand prix at the Valencia street circuit was held in July 2012, and won by Spain’s Fernando Alonso.

“Now, far from the glamour, the neighbours complain that there is no supervision and that thieves have taken everything of any value,” said Marca.

[MIKA27]

Alonso to miss Jerez as Massa and De la Rosa to drive new Ferrari first

It will fall to Felipe Massa to give the car that Ferrari will use in this year’s Formula 1 World Championship its track debut, while Fernando Alonso will miss the first test at Jerez and only get into the cockpit two weeks later in Barcelona.

The Brazilian will begin work on development of the new car, starting on 5 February at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit, which hosts the first of three test sessions of four days duration each, to be held in the run-up to the start of the season.

Massa will stay on track until 7 February before handing over to Pedro De La Rosa, who will thus make his debut at the wheel of a Ferrari.

In the meantime and throughout all the first part of February, Fernando Alonso will intensify his physical training, in preparation for a first part of the season which, as usual will be very demanding, both because of the long distances involved between the various grands prix and because of the variety of weather conditions encountered from Melbourne to Sakhir, with Sepang and Shanghai in between.

Fernando will get behind the wheel of the fourth car of his Ferrari career for the first time on 19 February at Montmelo’s Catalunya circuit. The Spaniard will drive for three days before handing over to team-mate Massa.

The final test session, also at Montmelo from 28 February to 3 March will see Felipe and Fernando take turns on track: Thursday and Saturday for the Brazilian, Friday and Sunday for the Spaniard. This means the breakdown of test days for the Ferrari men is as follows: Massa six days, Alonso five and De La Rosa one.

De la Rosa was in Maranello on Wednesday for a seat fitting to fine tune his position in the cockpit of the new car. He has had a series of meetings with the Scuderia engineers to define his programme on the simulator, which will constitute the major part of his role as test driver.

This means that his day on track on 8 February will be very important, as it will allow both the team and the driver to work specifically on looking at the correlation between the virtual and the real experience. The work of assembling the new car goes on: yesterday the engine was fired up for the first time. (Ferrari Press Release)

[MIKA27]

Ecclestone hits back at Melbourne F1 cost complaints

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has hit back at the latest controversy surrounding the cost of Melbourne’s annual grand prix.

After reportedly seeing secret documents, local media this week revealed for the first time that the government pays more than $30 million in race fees to the sport, which increases by 5 per cent every year until the end of the contract in 2015.

Tourism minister Louise Asher said that those figures are “too high”.

F1 chief executive Ecclestone hit back on local 3AW radio: “Maybe it’s not a true figure.

“[paying] is up to them, isn’t it? I can’t make them sign a contract, they do it of their own free will. [but] they shouldn’t complain after they sign.”

Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Andrew Westacott commented: “Melbournians have got to realise [that] major events don’t grow on trees.

“They cost a lot of money to stage,” he told the Herald Sun.

MIKA: I can't really tell you all what I think about this on this forum as no doubt expletives shall be removed but all I can say is that the Australian Government both State and Federal can go **** themselves!

The amount of revenue such an event brings to businesses, especially Melbourne with all the cafes, hotels, restaurants and the like can not be measured as well as the spotlight the F1 brings to any country. Bunch of Dopes if you ask me.

[MIKA27]

Kubica: I believe I can come back

Robert Kubica insists he's not giving up on Formula One, confident that in time his limitations will lessen.

Kubica has been away from Formula One since suffering serious injuries in a rallying accident almost two years ago. The Pole suffered multiple fractures to his right arm and leg and underwent several operations.

In the last few months the 28-year-old has returned to racing, contesting a number of national rallies while also scheduling a DTM test with Mercedes.

However, the end goal, Kubica says, is still a Formula One comeback.

"I still believe I can come back," he told F1 Racing magazine. "It's not just a dream. Right now I have limitations with driving single-seaters, but they are less than they look from the outside.

"Things are improving. It wasn't like this six months ago and it wasn't like this three months ago. And thanks to rallies and tests on the race track, slowly my condition is improving - but there's still a long way to go.

"If you cannot have the thing you want, you want the thing you have. Most important for me is that I have seen the pace is still there and I am absolutely sure I can drive competitively again."

For now, though, the Pole still has some obstacles to overcome as his right arm and hand have yet to regain full function.

"The bigger problem is the limitation in the supination and pronation of the arm and the limited functionality in my fingers.

"But I'm convinced that this will come back slowly. Nerves need a lot of time and I see progress even if it's slow. I am quite sure this will be... not fixed, but not a big problem."

[MatthewB]

MIKA: I can't really tell you all what I think about this on this forum as no doubt expletives shall be removed but all I can say is that the Australian Government both State and Federal can go **** themselves!

The amount of revenue such an event brings to businesses, especially Melbourne with all the cafes, hotels, restaurants and the like can not be measured as well as the spotlight the F1 brings to any country. Bunch of Dopes if you ask me.

Agree with you mate. It would be dissapointing if F1 decided Oz was too troublseome and left after 2015. To make it you need to spend it.

Although, I would like too see an actual report detailing how much revenue is generated for the state govt by hosting an F1 event. I can understand how a non car lover would appreciate a shorter hospital wait time instead.

Have you heard much on either sydney or even adelaide's expressions of interest.

Cheers mate

[MIKA27]

Have you heard much on either sydney or even adelaide's expressions of interest.

Cheers mate

Thanks for posting Matt - Fortunately no, haven't heard anything since mid last year where Sydney made mention of having interest in hosting the Grand Prix. IMO, I don't think a better venue can be found for the Grand Prix.

Melbourne not only has the GP but also the supporting facilities for such events with everything being so close by to St Kilda Road such as Trams, trains, Hotels, Apartments, restaurants, Casino, Southbank and the like. During the Grand Prix, the Melbourne CBD is bursting with people.

Sydney is also a large city but there's just something missing to make it a successful host comparative to Melbourne. I guess in this instance, weather it's Victorian government or NSW, the naysayer tax payers complaining would do so no matter where it's hosted.

Not much heard on NSW hosting of late.

[MIKA27]

Mayor confirms that 2014 Russian GP will happen

The Russian Grand Prix – the country’s first Formula One race – will be held in Sochi in November 2014 despite delays in constructing the circuit, the city’s mayor said on Friday.

“It will be held in November, after the [2014 Winter] Olympics,” Anatoly Pakhomov told reporters in Moscow.

Last year local media reported, citing sources within the Russian Automobile Federation, that work on the $ 200-million project had been stopped.

Pakhomov, however, dismissed any doubts about the construction being completed on time.

“The circuit’s construction is being closely monitored by the regional government. Everything is going according to plan,” he said. “If we had any problems we would have asked for help from other regions.”

In 2010, Russia signed a seven-year deal with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone to stage a grand prix race in the Black Sea resort from 2014 until 2020.

Sochi will host the Winter Olympics in February 2014.

[MIKA27]

McLaren MP4-28 to be unveiled on multiple internet platforms

McLaren announced: “On Thursday 31 January 2013, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes will be unveiling the MP4-28, our new car for the 2013 F1 season. And we’ll be sharing the entire experience LIVE with our fans!

The car reveal will be broadcast exclusively live and direct from the MTC from 10:30am (UK Time) – and will be available to watch on McLaren.com and across our social media platforms: the official YouTube, Facebook and Google+ pages.

Showcasing exclusive material – including photos, videos and interviews with team personnel – there will also be bonus content available to viewers who tune in on the day.”

[MIKA27]

Hamilton aims to emulate Schumacher

Lewis Hamilton is aiming to do for Mercedes what Michael Schumacher did for Ferrari a decade ago.

Schumacher's years with Ferrari are the stuff of legends as the German turned the Championship hopefuls into Championship winners, claiming five Drivers' titles on the trot and six successive Constructors' crowns.

Now Hamilton wants to do something similar at Mercedes.

Joining the team, who claimed just one victory last season and finished a distant fifth in the Constructors' standings, the 28-year-old is determined to build Merc into Championship contenders.

"I just want to try something different. I'm not scared to try new things. I really wanted a different experience," he told the Independent.

"Michael went to Ferrari as Champion, which was more positive. I like to think I could do something similar. He did it with a great group of people. I definitely feel I have joined a team with great people around me.

"Part of this move is about achieving that next step. I could be a good driver but I want to be great. It could end badly, but I hope not.

"To be great is to work with this team to help turn them into one of the most successful in the sport. If I am able to do that it will be special."

As for those F1 personalities who believe Hamilton is taking a risk joining Mercedes, the Brit insists he has made the "right" decision for his future.

"You could say it is a gamble coming to Mercedes but I do not see it like that. I have one World Championship already. Can I win another? Yes, if I have the right car.

"I don't plan to go on as long as Michael (who retired at 43) but as long as Mark Webber (who is 36) and Rubens Barrichello (whose retired at 39).

"I am 28 and have a good 10 years left. It felt like the right decision when I decided to come here and it still feels like the right decision."

[MIKA27]

Lotus believes that teams will retain undisguised step nose in 2013

Lotus technical boss James Allison thinks that many teams will continue to use the unsightly but effective step nose concept in 2013.

The first 2013 car to be unveiled on Monday, Enstone based Lotus’ E21 still features the indecorous ‘step’ synonymous with last year’s grid, despite the FIA now allowing teams to please the fans by installing a so-called ‘modesty’laminate.

It is believed that Williams and Ferrari will indeed race cars with smooth noses in 2013.

But Lotus’ James Allison thinks the majority of the field will continue to feature questionable aesthetics.

“I would not be surprised if the majority of the grid chose not to make use of it (the modesty panel),” said the technical director.

“The panel will add a few grams of weight and so is only likely to run on the car if a team can find a performance benefit for doing so,” added Allison.

The new Lotus E21, revealed during a Youtube launch on Monday evening, does however feature the Twitter hashtag #imsexyandiknowit on its livery.

Allison admitted the car is a combination of redesigned parts and some evolution.

Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean will race, while the new GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi has signed up as ‘third driver’.

Italian Valsecchi, 26, said: “I hope this is the beginning of a career in F1.”

Belgian Jerome d’Ambrosio, however, retains his role as ‘reserve driver’, while Frenchman Nicolas Prost – the son of the famous four-time world champion Alain – “will perform development driver duties”, Lotus announced.

[MIKA27]

2013 Ferrari to disguise stepped nose on F2013

Ferrari will disguise the step in the nose of their 2013 car, it has emerged ahead of the Maranello launch scheduled for 1 March.

The FIA has allowed teams to install a “structurally irrelevant” laminate over the unseemly step for this year’s cars, following the public’s reaction to the dubious aesthetics of the 2012 field.

The ‘modesty panel’, however, is not mandatory, even though Valtteri Bottas revealed earlier this month that Williams will take advantage of the new rule for its 2013 car.

Now, a few days before the 2013 Ferrari appears officially, Spain’s Marca reports that the latest Maranello-built creation also has a smooth nose section.

“Visually, there is no step on the nose, but the nose remains high to allow the airflow under the car,” wrote correspondent Marco Canseco.

He added that the 2013 Ferrari’s front and rear wings “may not be shown in detail” at the forthcoming car launch, “to avoid giving clues to its rivals”.

The Marca report also said that the new Ferrari will have smaller sidepods, front pull-rod suspension as per the 2012 car, and a Red Bull-style Coanda exhaust layout.

[MIKA27]

Villeneuve to become commentator for Italian TV

Outspoken former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will be back in the grand prix paddock in 2013.

Reporting from a launch event at Monza,the Italian press said that the 1997 world champion has signed up with Sky Italia to commentate during live broadcasts at all races this season.

Joining him will be Ferrari test driver Marc Gene, who switches over from Antena 3′s Spanish coverage.

French Canadian Villeneuve, 41, is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Watching the races on TV, sometimes I would get angry about what others are saying.

“Now maybe someone will get angry at me,” laughed the former Williams, Honda and BMW F1 driver.

11-time grand prix winner Villeneuve’s late father, Gilles, is among the most revered Ferrari drivers of all time.

[MIKA27]

Button: The best car ever

Jenson Button is confident McLaren have left no stone unturned in their efforts to produce their best F1 car ever...

Entering his fourth season as a McLaren driver, Button has yet to recapture the form that carried him to the 2009 Drivers' Championship title with Brawn GP.

The blame for that, though, has not always rested with the Brit.

Last season was at times an erratic one for McLaren, who struggled to turn their pace into results due to reliability issues and basic errors.

This year, though, Button believes McLaren will put all that behind him as the team has taken strides to ensure the car is "bulletproof" and that operationally they cut out all errors.

"I'm going into my fourth season as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver and, more than ever, I know and understand the strengths and abilities of this team," said the 33-year-old.

"This year is really about continuity and consolidation.

"We were extremely strong throughout the whole of the 2012 season, but, for one reason or another, we couldn't quite pull it all together to challenge for the Championships.

"That's something we want to address for 2013. I've seen just how closely everybody has been working together on this car, and I think we've got the basis for a very strong season.

"We'll be working extremely hard during the pre-season to ensure we go to the first race with bulletproof reliability. Operationally, too, I think we've learned and developed from last year, and that will help us run a much smoother and stronger campaign.

"This year's car is the best we've ever made - I know the engineers have left absolutely no stone unturned in wringing every ounce of performance from every available area.

"I cannot wait to get behind the wheel and attempt to carry forward the incredible legacy that lives beneath the skin of every single man and woman who works at McLaren."

This season Button will assume the unofficial title of team leader given that, for the first time at McLaren, he has a new team-mate in Sergio Perez.

The Mexican racer, who joins McLaren from Sauber, has just two years experience to his name.

"Obviously, the biggest change for 2013 is my new team-mate, Checo," said Button.

"It's always interesting and inspiring to begin working with a new face, and it already feels like a very positive working relationship.

"I know from personal experience that it can feel initially daunting when you walk into the McLaren Technology Centre for the very first time, but I also remember how quickly I was made to feel at home and how welcoming I found the whole McLaren family. I'm sure Checo already feels very much at ease here."

[MIKA27]

Razia finds big money to secure Marussia race seat

After months of negotiations it is virtually certain that Luiz Razia, the 23-year-old Brazilian, has reportedly secured the second Marussia race seat for the 2013 Formula One season, a cockpit only recently vacated by salaried driver Timo Glock.

Brazil’s Globo said that Razia, the 2012 GP2 runner-up, had secured the place “after months of negotiations”.

“The official announcement will be made on February 5, during the presentation of the new car” at Jerez, said the report.

Razia, who linked to the report on his official website, is quoted as saying: “We have managed to close [the deal] at the last minute. The important thing is that I have got what I have worked for over 11 years, since karts.

It really is the fulfilment of a dream for me.”

Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat said that Razia has at least $15 million in backing.

“I have always raised the flag of Brazil, but we have only European investors in this project,” said the driver.

Should he make it onto the grid, he will be only one of two Brazilian drivers currently in F1, the other being Felipe Massa.

Despite the Globo report and Razia’s comments, the driver’s management did not confirm the deal when contacted by the British broadcaster Sky.

“At the moment we have made no decision,” a spokesman said.

In GP2 Series Razia made eighty starts, winning five times, of which four of those victories came in 2012 with Arden International where he finished second to Davide Valsecchi in the championship.

Marussia said on Thursday that its confirmed driver, rookie Max Chilton, will debut the team’s new MR02 car at Jerez next Tuesday, when “the rest of the testing schedule will also be communicated”.

Meanwhile, a Dutch media report said that Giedo van der Garde is close to securing the second race seat at Caterham, alongside Frenchman Charles Pic.

[MIKA27]

Ferrari signs up its first Chinese sponsor

Ferrari have announced their first Chinese sponsor, a maker of components for heavy industrial vehicles a world away from the glamour of the Italian company’s supercars.

Ferrari said in a statement on Thursday that the deal with Weichai Power would run to the end of the 2016 season.

China is a major market for Ferrari, who has had a presence there for more than 20 years. The team were overall runners-up in Formula One last season and are the only ones to have competed in every championship since 1950.

Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has reached a sponsorship agreement with Weichai Power, one of China’s leading manufacturer of heavy powertrain system and machinery vehicles. The agreement will last four years and will expire at the end of the 2016 sporting season.

Weichai Power, part of the Weichai Group, is the first Scuderia sponsor to come from China, where Ferrari has had a presence for over twenty years and which has become one of the main markets for Prancing Horse road cars.

[MIKA27]

Glock blames Ecclestone for F1 small team problems

Formula One’s funding model does no favours to struggling smaller teams, claims Marussia refugee and newly signed DTM driver Timo Glock.

The 30-year-old German has had to leave F1 for the DTM touring car series for 2013, because Marussia need to replace him with a pay-driver.

“I learned the hard way,” said Glock, “that it is extremely difficult for a small team to come out of the cellar.

“The top teams get a lot of money from Bernie Ecclestone, starving the small teams a little bit.

“Finding partners to improve the budget is increasingly difficult,” he is quoted by Speed Week.

Indeed, the smaller teams are apparently becoming increasingly reliant on ‘pay drivers’ to boost their coffers, and it is expected that – like Glock – the next victim of this trend will be Caterham’s Heikki Kovalainen.

“There have always been pay drivers,” Glock admitted. “I won’t say that they have no talent.

“Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez have proved that you can have good partners behind you and drive fast as well. It’s perfectly legitimate.

“But it’s too bad that F1 is increasingly developing in this direction.”

He said Marussia in particular was caught out by the political wranglings of a few years ago, when small teams’ interest was sparked by former FIA president Max Mosley’s plans for a budget cap.

“The approach of building a car only with CFD could have worked if the budget cap had come in,” said Glock. “But it didn’t.

“We then determined early on that you can’t do it just with CFD, you also need the wind tunnel, and by then the collaboration with McLaren had come too late.

“Last year, we showed that we can make a step forward, and found more than 1.5 seconds[per lap]. But in order to make the big step, you need [to] double the budget.”

Der Spiegel reported last week that Marussia only managed to vacate Glock’s cockpit for 2013 after paying him his retainer.

He responded: “Then they know quite a lot, or more than I do. On contractual things I can’t say much. It’s mine and Marussia’s business only.”

As for whether he has closed the chapter on F1, having reportedly signed a three-year contract with BMW, Glock insisted: “Let’s wait. At the moment I’m focusing on what lies ahead. What happens in the next few years, we wait and see.”

[MIKA27]

Dekra and Sauber announce new partnership

DEKRA will be an Official Partner of the Sauber Formula One Team, and as such will continue its longstanding relationship with Nico Hülkenberg.

The DEKRA logo will appear on the side of Nico Hülkenberg’s cap with immediate effect. The partnership between the DEKRA Group and the German F1 driver goes back to the beginnings of his racing career.

“It’s gratifying to be able to combine the interests of all three parties in this way,” notes Monisha Kaltenborn, CEO of the Sauber F1 Team. “In DEKRA the Sauber F1 Team welcomes a partner that has been a firm fixture of the Formula One scene for many years. We keenly anticipate this new partnership and look forward to a successful season.”

Clemens Klinke, Member of the Executive Board at DEKRA SE with responsibility for the Automotive Business Unit, comments: “We are delighted to have entered into partnership with the Sauber F1 Team for the upcoming F1 season and thus build on our longstanding association with Nico Hülkenberg as well.

A long shared history already unites us and we are fully committed to continuing this from 2013. Nico’s success has already been followed with great enthusiasm by DEKRA management and staff all over the world since his rookie season in 2010. And we are convinced that he will cause even more of a sensation having switched to the Sauber F1 team.”

[MIKA27]

German GP at Nurburgring will happen in 2013

The Nurburgring will host this year’s German Grand Prix after Formula One commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone agreed to a deal, ending months of uncertainty over the venue, the race will take place on 7 July, 2013.

“I treasure the Nurburgring and its history,” 82-year old Ecclestone said in a statement on Thursday.

“In view of its long tradition, I was glad to support choosing the Nurburgring as the venue for the Formula One,” he added.

The Nuerburgring and Hockenheim have alternated as venues for the German Grand Prix in recent years, but financial problems at the former had caused uncertainty over this year’s race.

Circuit owners Nurburgring GmbH, who are 90 percent owned by the German regional state of Rhineland-Palatinate, ran into financial trouble amid a dispute with track operator NAG over leasing fees.

The state authorities are under pressure to make the track pay after pouring millions of euros into a racing-themed amusement park there.

The race is a home one for Red Bull’s triple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who has yet to win a grand prix on German soil, as well as for car maker Mercedes who now have Britain’s 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton partnering Germany’s Nico Rosberg in their works team.

[MIKA27]

Video: The making of the Melbourne F1 circuit

[MIKA27]

Photos: McLaren MP4-28 specifications and close-up

McLaren is the second oldest active Formula 1 team (after Ferrari) and one of the most successful teams at the pinnacle, having won 182 races, 12 drivers’ championships and 8 constructors’ championships, and will hoping to add to their impressive record with the newly launched MP4-28 – here are the detailed specifications of McLaren’s 2013 challenger. (See close-up gallery at the foot of specifications list)

MP4-28 Technical Specifications

Chassis

Monocoque. McLaren-moulded carbonfibre composite incorporating front and side impact structures, and survival cell

Front suspension

Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pullrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement

Rear suspension

Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pullrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement

Electronics

McLaren Electronic Systems. Including chassis control, engine control, data acquisition, dashboard, alternator, sensors, data analysis and telemetry.

Bodywork

Carbon-fibre composite. Including engine cover, sidepods, floor, nose, front wing and rear wing.

Driver-operated drag reduction system

Lubricants & Fluids

Mobilith SHC™ 1500 Grease – lubricates the four tripod joints on the drive-shafts resisting the high temperatures generated by the exhaust and braking systems

Mobilith SHC™ 220 Grease – minimises rolling resistance in the car’s ceramic wheel bearings to help maximise speed

Mobil SHC™ Hydraulic Oil – running at over 200 bar and 100° C this fluid is an essential part of the hydraulic system which controls gear shift, the throttles and operation of DRS and steering systems

Tyres: Pirelli P Zero

Radio: Kenwood

Race wheels: Enkei

Brake calipers: Akebono

Master cylinders: Akebono

Batteries: GS Yuasa Corporation

Steering: McLaren power-assisted

Instruments: McLaren Electronic Systems

Paint solutions: AkzoNobel Car Refinishes using Sikkens products

Engine

Type: Mercedes-Benz FO 108F

Capacity: 2.4 litres

Cylinders:8

Maximum rpm: 18,000

Bank angle: 90°

Piston bore maximum: 98mm

Number of valves: 32

Fuel: ExxonMobil High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel)

Spark plugs: NGK Formula 1 specification racing spark plugs

Lubricants: Mobil 1™ Engine Oil – for long engine life, protection and cooling combined with improved fuel economy

Weight: 95kg (minimum FIA regulation weight)

KERS Hybrid

Type: Mercedes-Benz

e-Motor: Engine-mounted electrical motor/generator

ESS: Integrated energy storage cells and power electronics

Power: 60 kW

Transmission

Gearbox: McLaren-moulded carbon-fibre composite

Integral rear impact structure

Gears: Seven forward and one reverse

Gear selection: McLaren seamless shift, hand-operated

Clutch: Carbon/carbon, hand-operated

Lubricants: Mobil 1 SHC™ Gear Oil – provides reduced fluid traction losses improving gearbox efficiency and delivering more power to the rear wheels

[MIKA27]

Allison hails Lotus line-up

James Allison reckons Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean will be Lotus' "trump card" this season.

Lotus were the first team to launch their 2013 challenger when they took the covers off the E21 on Monday.

However, it's not the car that technical director Allison believes will give Lotus the edge over their rivals. Rather, he reckons, it will be the team's two drivers.

"By far and away the biggest trump card we have to play this year is that we have got two drivers who start the year [in strong shape]," Allison told Autosport.

"One of them [Raikkonen] had a brilliant season last year and really got up to speed quite swiftly and no-one would deny that in the last half of the year his driving was absolutely top drawer stuff.

"Obviously, Romain had a few well-publicised moments and I think they will be useful lessons learned for him so he will have a much more productive year.

"We're going to start with two drivers that are properly competitive and are going to put a lot of points down the oppositions' throats."

[MIKA27]

Bernie: No Scorpion Racing in 2013

Bernie Ecclestone says that Scorpion Racing will not feature on the 2013 grid despite a late attempt by the team to register.

A group of investors from North America are believed to have purchased the HRT team - who were liquidated last year - and are attempting to ready it for the upcoming campaign.

However, while the new outfit is in the process of completing due diligence, they have missed the FIA's November entry deadline by some margin and Ecclestone believes that the motorsport body will not allow for such a late entry.

"I've spoken to them and told them to get in touch with the FIA and ask for an entry," said the Briton.

"They want to buy all the bits from HRT, then form a company and ask for an entry, but I personally don't think it will happen. It's all a bit too late. Maybe they could do it for next year."

[MIKA27]

Webber on Armstrong, Marko

Red Bull driver Mark Webber has hit out at former friend Lance Armstrong and offered a curt response to Helmu Marko's criticism.

Webber, who became friends with Armstrong through his own love for cycling and admired the American for the way in which he battled back from cancer - having lost his grandfather to the disease when he was just 14 - now realises he was just one of the many people that Armstrong treated "like idiots".

In truth, their friendship ended in 2008 when Armstrong failed to show "without a word of an apology" for the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix after Red Bull "had gone out of their way to meet all his demands", an incident that now makes much more sense to Webber in light of the damaging revelations revealed in Armstrong's recent interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Writing in his final BBC column, Webber said: "I think what's staggering to everyone is the amount of people he was prepared to take out on the way up; people who were morally on the right side of the bridge.

"He wasn't worried about the ramifications and the position he may have put these people in; it was all about Planet Lance.

"That's why, Lance, using your words, the "death penalty" (regarding his life ban from cycling) isn't too heavy. You rubbed a lot of people's noses in it for so long and treated the rest of us like idiots.

"Whenever I think of Armstrong now, I think of the clean cyclists who competed in the system Armstrong was fuelling week in, week out.

"We'll never know but some of them on their day could have challenged the likes of Armstrong, Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich, Alexander Vinokourov, Alberto Contador, Richard Virenque and so on.

"Sadly, we don't even know their names, but in my reckoning they're morally streets ahead of those guys. Life is full of choices. Sure, none of us are perfect, but ultimately karma always triumphs."

********

In other news surrounding Webber, the Australian has finally responded to the fairly stinging criticism he received from Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko earlier this month.

Speaking to Red Bull's own Red Bulletin magazine, Marko claimed Webber "can't maintain this form throughout the year" and "falls relatively easily into a downward spiral" when things start to go wrong in the closing stages of a season, like in 2012.

In a pre-season Q&A on his own website, Webber responded to Marko's claims, saying simply: "Look, everyone at this level has their own agendas and it's been evident for a longtime now that I've never been a part of Marko's."

[MIKA27]

Gallery: Ferrari drops stepped nose on F138

Ferrari took the covers off of its 2013 car - named the F138 to commemorate the last season in which the V8 engines will be used - on Friday at their Maranello factory.