Formula 1 - 2017

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Nico Rosberg wins Laureus Breakthrough of the Year award

2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg has won the ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ prize at the Laureus Awards in Monaco.

The German driver beat his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to the F1 world title last year, after missing out in both 2014 and 2015.

He went up against Olympians Almaz Ayana and Wayde van Niekerk, Iceland’s football team, Fiji’s Rugby Sevens squad and 2015/2016 Premier League champions LeicesterCity for the award on Tuesday night.

He was presented with his ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ award by double F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi.

Previous winners of the prize include current F1 drivers Hamilton (2008) and Daniel Ricciardo (2015).

Just days after claiming the 2016 F1 title, Rosberg announced his retirement from the sport.

Mercedes was nominated for 'Team of the Year' after winning 19 of the 21 races en route to the constructors’ title.

The Brackley-based outfit missed out on the award to the Baseball World Series champions Chicago Cubs.

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F1 should consider bringing back active suspension - Boullier

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier has suggested Formula 1 should consider bringing back active suspension.

The technology has been banned since the start of the 1994 season but was one of various ideas proposed at a meeting of technical directors and the FIA last week.

F1 teams have failed to reach an agreement on the legality of trick suspension systems, with a ruling expected from the FIA before the end of the month.

Debate about pre-loaded suspension systems has been ongoing since Ferrari designer Simone Resta wrote to F1 race director Charlie Whiting about the devices helping aerodynamic performance.

Ferrari was believed to be seeking guidance on whether concepts used by rival teams were legal rather than seeking to develop its own.

When speaking about the suspension discussions, Boullier suggested active suspension - which was key to rival Williams's 1992 and '93 world championships - could be the solution to end the debate.

"Suspension, it's a funny topic," he said. "We should maybe one day stop it and copy the road car, which is to bring active suspension back, because at least it will close the debate.

"Today, everything is subject to the interpretation of the regulation and then you can push for one concept, which you can see can be differently interpreted from another one.

"This is which is why Ferrari is trying to push its opinion or interpretation being valid by the FIA. We're in the middle of this and actually, most of the teams have contacted us over this topic.

"Ferrari has a different interpretation of what can be done and they try to push their opinion through which obviously does not please some other teams."

It is believed a fresh technical directive from Whiting giving his opinion on the situation will be distributed before the end of the month.

It is hoped the ruling will deliver clear guidelines on what is and is not allowed, and doing so before testing begins at Barcelona on February 27 would at least give teams time to adjust before the season opener next month.

Should there be ongoing disagreements about the situation, it is possible the matter could result in a showdown at the Australian Grand Prix.

Looking ahead to the season opener, Boullier said it was difficult to predict the pecking order, but he expected there to be some surprises.

"This year, we have a new aero package and some teams will do a better job than some others," he said. So at the beginning of the season, there will be some difference, I'm sure some surprises.

"But the teams will then copy each other, or will integrate each other's concept into their own concepts, and again we will tend to have more disparity - but I'm sure it'll be closer."

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Renault F1 team appoints Pete Machin as new head of aerodynamics

Renault has appointed Pete Machin to the role of head of aerodynamics as the French manufacturer continues to restructure its Formula 1 outfit.

Machin, who previously worked at Red Bull as its aerodynamics team leader, will join Renault on July 3 and be based at Enstone.

He started his career at Bombardier Aerospace as an aerodynamicist, before entering F1 with Arrows in 1997 as senior CFD engineer.

Machin moved to Jaguar in 2002 and stayed on when the outfit became Red Bull, working on windtunnel development as the team won four successive drivers' and constructors' titles from 2010.

As part of the restructuring, Jon Tomlinson will assume the role of deputy head of aerodynamics, having previously led the department.

"Aerodynamics are obviously a hugely important element of the performance equation so to enlist Pete is a particular highlight of our recent recruitment programme," said Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul.

"The latest generation of regulations are, if anything, more aero-crucial than before so to have Pete join us at such a time of exciting evolution will be of the greatest benefit.

"Pete will fit into our existing structure and we expect to see the fruits of his labours come on stream later in the year."

Machin added: "It is clear that Renault Sport is serious about mounting a fresh challenge within F1 and I am happy to join the team.

"[Renault chief technical officer] Bob Bell headed-up the technical team when Renault last won world championships as a constructor, so I'm very much looking forward to working with him in my new role with that same achievement as the target.

"I have previously worked closely with both Nick Chester and Ciaron Pilbeam too, so I have good familiarity with some key personnel as well as the aspirations."

The appointments come after Renault announced in December that Pilbeam had rejoined the outfit from McLaren as chief race engineer. 

Meanwhile, Rob White moved to Enstone from Renault's engine operation at Viry to take on the role of operations director.

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Formula 1 now capable of 'internet' broadcasts with new technology

Formula 1 is now capable of delivering broadcasts directly to internet users following tests carried out in 2016.

Work carried out by Tata Communications in conjunction with Formula One Management, which included a test run at last year's Singapore Grand Prix, has proved that the technology is now in place for 'Over the top' broadcasts, more commonly known as 'OTT'.

This would allow for F1 action to be broadcast direct to a viewer via the internet, rather than requiring access to a particular television channel, which has been F1's mode of delivery for decades.

Tata's managing director of F1 business, Mehul Kapadia, said a lot of effort has gone into removing the delay often associated with watching something live through an internet connection.

"One of the challenges that OTT has faced in the past is that what you see on your television versus what you see on your iPad or phone would not be synced up," he told Autosport.

"That was the one big technology challenge that we have worked on solving, and demonstrating that we can do it.

"This was something we ran at the Singapore race and I would say the technology is now there to do it."

However, F1 is unlikely to witness a quick shift to OTT as its main form of broadcast, with TV companies still paying high fees for exclusive rights.

Kapadia added: "OTT has a couple of answers needed from a commercial standpoint.

"It is a commercial challenge about whether sports franchises want to directly reach to consumers and then not have the scale that comes to them from broadcasters."

While new F1 owner Liberty Media is unlikely to be able to create a shift in the championship's TV model in the short term, Kapadia expects plenty of areas to improve for fans in terms of the viewing experience.

"Loads of opportunities are still there, and there are so many things that we can work on," he added.

"The entire digital transformation that is happening, whether it is the way we work or the way we look at the sport, or how we interact with the sport when you are at the race track or at the stadium.

"Whether you are watching football, F1 or cricket, the entertainment value is coming from being immersive and closer to the sport.

"While some part of that immersion has been solved by what sort of data you can get on your second screen, fundamentally your primary viewing experience, irrespective of the screen size, needs to give you more immersion, more choice in terms of how you want to view it, and a higher degree of what data points you now want to look at.

"We are looking at a 360-degree digital transformation that is going to happen, and all of it catering for fans."

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Honda changing F1 engine concept for 2017 a risk, Hasegawa admits

Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa admits choosing a completely different concept for its 2017 Formula 1 engine is a risk.

After a miserable return to F1 with McLaren in 2015, Honda made gains last year but remained at the back of the pack, behind rival manufacturers Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault.

As Honda bids to close that gap further this year, Hasegawa says the Japanese manufacturer is taking a risk with its next generation unit.

"The concept is completely different," he told Autosport.

"It's very high risk, we don't know a lot of things about that new concept.

"We know it will give us a performance advantage but the biggest risk is whether we can realise that potential this year."

McLaren technical director Tim Goss said last month that Honda had completed a redesign of its power unit, aided by the abolishment of the token system. 

The unit is set to feature a revised architecture and a new layout in a bid to improve performance and packaging based on lessons learned from the past two seasons. 

Hasegawa said the internal combustion engine remains a key focus for Honda but development of other elements are required in tandem to make progress.

"We need to concentrate on the ICE for this year," he said.

"If we improve the engine itself, which means boosting exhaust gas energy, we need to boost the turbine otherwise we cannot perform at the same level in terms of deployment.

"We still have to do some tests and there will be some trial and error.

"I hope we have understood the direction and the elements to focus on.

"But it's not easy to combine the elements to realise the improvements on the ICE completely."

[skalls]

I think Honda had to do that though since their turbos were too small.  But that doesn't bode well.

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10 minutes ago, skalls said:

I think Honda had to do that though since their turbos were too small.  But that doesn't bode well.

Exactly, what's the point of struggling all these years since 2015 and now, take a massive risk!? I know everything in many ways changes this season for everyone, but this is like starting from zero again.

If this season goes to s**t for them, I guarantee Alonso will leave.

[skalls]

I think they had to make that move though bc the HP difference was just too great.  Might make their engines a bit more efficient too.  Didn't both Alonso and Button have to finish races in a fuel economy mode multiple times last year?

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12 minutes ago, skalls said:

Didn't both Alonso and Button have to finish races in a fuel economy mode multiple times last year?

Yep - GERMAN GP

[skalls]

Can't wait to start seeing the new cars next week.  The tires are so damn big though that they may look a bit clownish

[LLC]

EURO MPS PAVE WAY FOR INVESTIGATION INTO F1 ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES



Members of the European Parliament have supported a motion to open an investigation into “anti-competitive practices” in Formula 1.

Labour MEP Anneliese Dodds called for an investigation in an amendment to the parliament’s annual competition report, which passed by 467 votes to 156, with 86 abstentions. The European Commission may now launch an inquiry.

Dodds claims smaller teams are “unfairly punished” because of the way F1 is run, while recently questioning the sport’s takeover by Liberty Media and the resulting UK tax arrangements.

Dodds cited the collapse of Manor as an example of how small F1 teams struggle while the big teams get richer, “Smaller teams are unfairly punished by an uncompetitive allocation of prize money that will always give the biggest teams more money, even if they finish last in every race.”

In 2015 Force India and Sauber, called on the EU’s Competition Commission to investigate the unfairness over the way F1 revenues were divided and how rules were decided without consultation with smaller teams.

Being in F1 is not a right, it is a privilege (and an expensive one at that). If you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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2 hours ago, LLC said:

 

Being in F1 is not a right, it is a privilege (and an expensive one at that). If you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Exactly, right!

I used to have alot of time and love for Sauber and still deep down do, but they are constantly complaining about cash flow to a point that I just dont care much anymore. 

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PIRELLI UNVEIL F1 TYRES ON OCCASION OF 110TH ANNIVERSARY

Having entered the sport again in 2011 following three previous stints in the 1950s, 1980s and 1990s, Pirelli is now embarking on its seventh season of Formula 1 as part of an agreement that runs until the end of 2019.

But this is set to be the most revolutionary year of them all from a tyre point of view, while there are some very significant technical changes to the cars as well. This new era of Formula 1 will be seen on track for the first time in just two weeks, when the teams take part in the first official test session at Barcelona: one of the fastest, most abrasive and technically demanding circuits of them all.

The most obvious visual difference is that the tyres are now around 25% wider, both front and rear, increasing from 245 to 305mm at the front and 325 to 405mm at the rear. The actual rim size remains unchanged from the traditional 13 inches.

This is part of a package of measures expected to cut lap times by around five seconds relative to 2015: although the improvement might be even bigger.

Most of that extra speed has been found through corners, as the cars have got wider and will generate at least 20% more downforce compared to last year thanks to bigger wings and increased aerodynamics.

These faster cornering speeds – to the extent that some corners have now effectively become straights, already leading to circuit modifications – have imposed significantly increased loads on the tyres, meaning that there is a completely new philosophy behind Pirelli’s 2017 range.

Having followed the brief to provide deliberate degradation for the past six seasons, there is now a new directive to make tyres with less degradation that are more resistant to overheating for the latest generation of much faster cars. As a result, the tyre structure and compounds are brand new this year.

Arriving at the correct specification was a considerable task, especially because none of the new cars yet existed when the test programme was being carried out last season.

Instead, Pirelli had to rely on simulated data and ‘mule cars’: modified 2015 cars provided by three teams (Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull) that were adapted in an attempt to replicate the expected 2017 regulations.

In total, 24 test days were dedicated to the wider 2017 tyres with the mule cars from August onwards, covering around 12000 kilometres on five circuits. There was also some earlier testing of 2017 compounds and structures before the summer break using normal 2016-size tyres.

However, the real performance of the 2017 cars is likely to be considerably more advanced than the simulated mule cars, with a rapid rate of in-season development. There are also still a number of question marks over the effects of the new regulations: only some of which will be answered in Barcelona shortly, where conditions are likely to be a lot cooler than the rest of the season.

As a result, the teams will all have the same tyre allocation for the first five races of the year. Pirelli has additionally prepared a range of back-up tyres, more similar to the 2016 range, just in case the behaviour of the latest cars does not correspond to expectations. These are available to be introduced at any point early in the season if needed.

The new 2017 range of Formula 1 tyres represents the very top of Pirelli’s ultra-high performance technology. Created in Italy, but seen all over the world.

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McLaren, Renault fire up 2017 F1 cars for the first time

McLaren-Honda and Renault have fired up their 2017 Formula 1 cars for the first time.

Ahead of the new season, McLaren has adopted a new naming pattern and dropped the 'MP4' moniker after over three decades.

This year’s McLaren will be called the MCL32 and will be raced by Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne.

LISTEN: McLaren MCL32 fire-up video

The team has now shared a video on social media of its 2017 car and Honda power unit's maiden fire-up, with the MCL32 set to be unveiled on the 24 February.

Renault followed up McLaren's video with its own 2017 car fire-up clip, which was posted to its Twitter account.

LISTEN: Renault RS17 fire-up video

Jolyon Palmer remains at the Enstone-based outfit, with Nico Hülkenberg making the move over to Renault from Force India for this year.

MIKA: Wow, the Renault sounds completely different compared to McLaren. 

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Renault have ‘potential’ to match Mercedes

Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul believes there is “absolutely no doubt” that their new engine will be eventually capable of challenging Mercedes.

The French manufacturer finished ninth in the Constructors’ Championship last year and there is a belief that they will be able to look further up the standings once they know they are working with a reliable unit.

“We have got to confirm the turnaround that we started last year – because it is not completed yet,” Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

“We have a completely new engine architecture that we are introducing this year, and the first challenge with that will be to make it reliable.

“We already know for sure that it will offer the potential of performance to match Mercedes. There is absolutely no doubt about that. And maybe in the future the potential to overtake them.

“But first it has to be reliable. That is the main challenge and that is what we want to get. Also reliability will be important to develop the chassis.”

Abitboul also suggested that Renault may actually cut down on personnel currently working on the engine after a heavy recruitment process, which includes the arrival of Pete Machin, formerly of Red Bull, in the summer.

“2017 will be more of a consolidation year,” he added.

“In Viry, the focus is much more on quality rather than quantity.

“We may actually reduce slightly the size of our operations.

“On the chassis side, we have recruited something like 100 people, so that is a growth of 20% of headcount, which is a lot.

“We are going to slow down a little bit the recruitment, make sure everyone is finding their feet.

“I will be more focused on securing the right department heads, which takes time because of the contractual situation – the more senior you go in an organisation, the longer it takes to get those people.”

[skalls]

I agree that it's not a right, but I think the legacy payments need to go away.  Those are kinda BS.

Can't wait to see these cars in action when they test.  Really looking forward to seeing what Haas can do in year 2.  Got a hunch that RBR is going to give the Merc boys a run for their money.  The Renault seemed pretty stable last year and Newey does amazing things with aero.

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Manor team's demise a failure of the Formula 1 system - Minardi

Manor's demise proves Formula 1's system has failed and needs rethinking, according to former team boss Giancarlo Minardi.

Administrators for Manor announced late last month that the outfit was being shut down, after hopes of finding a buyer faded.

It means the grid has been reduced to 20 cars for the 2017 season, while more than 200 staff have been made redundant.

"When a team leaves F1 it is a failure of the whole system," Minardi, whose team made 340 F1 starts between 1985 and 2005 before becoming Toro Rosso, told Autosport.

"We must not forget that the current regulations will be in force until 2020."

Minardi believes F1's introduction of the 1.6-litre V6 engines ahead of the 2014 season is the key mistake that has caused financial problems for teams.

"In recent years F1 chose the road of technology, in other words to make Formula 1 the maximum expression of technology with the introduction of the power unit, and this has led to a big increase in costs," he said.

"I would have rather seen the power unit technology used in endurance races.

"Formula 1 is sprint racing, wheel-to-wheel battles between drivers."

The 69-year-old also echoed former FIA president Max Mosley's view that F1 has gone in the wrong direction with the 2017 rule changes.

F1 will be revamped this year, with wider cars, bigger wings and larger tyres that are expected to combine to deliver quicker lap times.

"At Melbourne we will see cars that are four to five seconds faster according to simulations," he said.

"What is the good of this?

"It will certainly not help the spectacle as those who are seated in the grandstands or watching televisions will not realise it."

Minardi, who still watches every F1 race 11 years after leaving the paddock, wants new owner Liberty Media to bring the series back to basics.

"I would like to see more days devoted to collective tests to attract the fans that have run away because of their loss of interest," said Minardi.

"We should come back into the track instead of spending on simulators.

"I would encourage decreasing the number of the staff within a team.

"We should prohibit the use of remote teams of engineers, engineer teams who work at the headquarters simultaneously with those at the track.

"I would also free up the development of engines and cars, without any limits.

"On pitstops, I would reduce the number of mechanics working on the car to eight as they would be more spectacular for the television audience.

"It would be exciting from a strategy point of view, too, in addition to helping reduce the costs."

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INJURED WEHRLEIN MAY BE REPLACED FOR BARCELONA TEST

Pascal Wehrlein’s 2017 Formula 1 season may be dealt a major blow before it even begins as he continues to recover from an injury sustained during the Race of Champions event in Miami, where he barrel-rolled onto a barrier during a race in a three-wheeler car.

At the time the back injury did not appear to be severe, but since then it is clear that it is serious enough to perhaps deny the Sauber driver the opportunity to test for his new team in Barcelona, while denying him vital track time with the new generation cars.

Sauber are yet to make any announcement regarding the matter, but Italian media are reporting that Antonio Giovinazzi is ready to fill in for Wehrlein for the first test, starting 27 February at Circuit de Catalunya, and may well need the Italian’s services for the second test a week later at the same venue.

Marcus Ericsson is the Swiss  team’s other driver, but they do not have a reserve and thus team chief Monisha Kaltenborn has approached Ferrari, her team’s engine suppliers, to free up their reserve Giovinazzi to share cockpit duties with Ericsson in Spain.

This will give Giovinazzi the opportunity to test the characteristics of the new cars, after making his debut at Fiorano in a two year old the SF15-T earlier this month.

Mercedes junior driver Wehrlein has been on the receiving side of dubious luck since he lost out when Force India hired Esteban Ocon for 2017, then he was overlooked by Mercedes when they opted for Valtteri Bottas to replace Nico Rosberg and now suffering an injury that may impact negatively on his preparations for the new season.

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ALLISON TO JOIN MERCEDES AS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Former Ferrari technical director James Allison will take on a similar role at Mercedes from March 1, the reigning Formula One world champions said on Thursday.

Allison replaces Paddy Lowe, who helped lead Mercedes to three successive driver and constructor world championships, and the Briton will report directly to motorsport head Toto Wolff.

The World Champion team released the following statement:

Respected Formula One engineer James Allison to join the world champions in the newly created role of Technical Director.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport announced that James Allison will join the team from 1 March 2017.

James is a highly distinguished Formula 1 engineer who has won world championships with both Ferrari and Renault, in addition to holding senior leadership roles in both teams.

He will join Mercedes in the newly created role of Technical Director and will lead the Technical organisation.

He will be welcomed warmly by the established group of senior technical managers that delivered the last three Formula 1 double world championships.

James Allison will report directly to Toto Wolff, who will have overall responsibility for running the team.

Commenting on his imminent arrival at Mercedes, James Allison said: “I am very excited to be getting back to work after this time away from the sport. It’s a massive privilege to be given the trust of a position in a team that has done so spectacularly well in the past three seasons. I am really looking forward to playing my part in helping Mercedes go from strength to strength in the coming years.”

Toto Wolff concluded: “I am delighted to welcome James to Mercedes and very much looking forward to working with him. Our technical team is extremely skilled at every level and at the top of its game after delivering three world championships in a row.”

“It wasn’t an easy task to find the right personality who can strengthen our experienced group of engineers, give our talented young team members the space to develop and also bring his own vision to this role. James is a sharp engineer; I think we have found the perfect guy and the right fit with our senior leaders.”

MIKA: Great news IMO - Allison is brilliant

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MARKETING MAN EKREM SAMI QUITS MCLAREN

Changes to the upper management at McLaren continue, in the wake of the deposing of Ron Dennis at the helm of the organisation, with long time executive Ekrem Sami set to quit the team in March.

The team released the following statement:

After 35 years’ service, McLaren Marketing CEO Ekrem Sami today announces his decision to move on.

Ekrem Sami (Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Marketing) said:

“I don’t mind admitting that it feels a bit strange to be announcing that I’m moving on from McLaren, the company to which I’ve devoted almost all my professional life. But now is the right time.

“However, I’ll continue to work on the projects with which I’m already engaged, and I expect to formalise my departure some time in late March.

“Over the past 35 years I’ve worked with some truly brilliant people, and I want to say thank you to them all. Our successes were a team effort in the most fundamental way.

“As for my own plans, I’m looking forward to broadening my professional outlook into the wider sports and entertainment sector, after being so immersed in the weird and wonderful world of Formula 1.”

Zak Brown (Executive Director, McLaren Technology Group) said:

“Whatever Ekrem chooses to do with the rest of his professional life, I’ll always regard him as a McLaren man through and through. His commitment and work ethic remain absolutely second to none, and I feel privileged to have worked with him for so long – not only recently as his McLaren colleague but also, over many years, as his close associate, during my time at Just Marketing International.

“Ekrem and I achieved a lot together, and I don’t mind admitting that I learned a hell of a lot from him. His commitment to the McLaren cause has never wavered, and you’d have to look very hard to find a man who works harder than he does.

“Bearing all that in mind, I’m confident that he’ll excel in whatever areas he next chooses to ply his trade. He and I will definitely stay in touch, but I’ll miss being his colleague. We all will. But we wish him well.”

Mansour Ojjeh (Executive Committee Principal, McLaren Technology Group) said:

“I’ve known Ekrem for 34 years – and, from the moment I first met him, I recognised in him a first-rate commercial mind and an unbelievable determination to succeed.

“Those early days were stressful but exciting – and, when we began to achieve world championship successes in the mid-to-late ’80s with the likes of Niki [Lauda], Alain [Prost] and Ayrton [Senna], inevitably it was our superstar drivers and our brilliant engineers who seemed to get the lion’s share of the credit. But, behind the scenes, Ekrem’s clever but dogged commercial work was just as important. Again and again it was Ekrem who would successfully capture the valuable sponsor-partnerships that our rivals so coveted, and as a result we were able to fund the car-development programmes that enabled us to win and win and win again.

“On behalf of all at McLaren, I want to take this opportunity to thank Ekrem for his truly gigantic contribution, and to wish him continued success in the future.”

Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa (Executive Committee Principal, McLaren Technology Group) said:

“Since the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company first purchased a McLaren shareholding 10 years ago, which event signalled the commencement of my involvement with the company, I’ve always been very impressed by the unique combination of quiet dignity and intense focus that has characterised the way Ekrem has led McLaren Marketing.

“I echo the generous and accurate comments made by both Mansour and Zak, and I would like to add one final thought. Ekrem leaves McLaren Marketing in very good shape, its staff well set to continue to follow the example he’s set so diligently for so long.

“And, that being the case, I want to thank him for what he’s given to McLaren over those years, for a job very well done.”

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FORMER FERRARI AERO CHIEF MOVES TO WILLIAMS

The engineering and management musical chairs that has prevailed during the current Formula 1 off season continued as Williams announced the appointment of the former Ferrari aero chief to the role Head of Aerodynamics at Grove.

The team announced in a press release:

Williams Martini Racing is pleased to announce that Dirk de Beer has been appointed as the team’s new Head of Aerodynamics, and will join the company on 1 March 2017.

Dirk arrives at Williams with a wealth of experience. He began his career at Swift Engineering, where he worked primarily on IndyCar design and went on to enjoy a brief spell at Sauber F1 Team as an Aerodynamicist, before joining Renault (Lotus F1 Team) in 2008.

After five years in the role of Head of Aerodynamics at Renault he moved to Ferrari in 2013 as Chief Aerodynamicist, where he worked until announcing his departure from the team last season.

Commenting on the announcement Dirk said: “I am extremely pleased to be joining Williams. The team has an incredible heritage in Formula One, and I’m proud to now be a part of that. I’m looking forward to working with Dave Wheater and the Williams aero team to help continue driving forward the development of the car throughout the season and beyond. I would like to thank Williams for giving me this opportunity.”

Deputy Team Principal, Claire Williams added: “We’re delighted to have someone with Dirk’s vast experience joining us. Having spent several years as a Head of Aerodynamics in Formula One, his knowledge and technical expertise will undoubtedly be a great asset to the team in our continued push to restore Williams to the front of the grid.”

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F1 2017 EXPLAINED: AERODYNAMICS #SIMPLIF1ED

 

The 2017 season marks the beginning of a new era in Formula One with radical aerodynamic changes and the introduction of wider tyres will alter the cars’ aerodynamics – but where will we see the effects most? Time to find out with Mercedes…

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ALONSO LAUNCHES EMOJI APP FOR HIS FANS

Social media aficionado Fernando Alonso has launched his own emoji app with a myriad of icons depicting various feelings and emotions.

There is even a ‘relaxing’ emoji based on Alonso sitting in the sun after his McLaren broke down in free practice during the 2015 Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.

The Fernando Alonso Relevans app is a free download but costs €0.99 to use.

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Haas to launch VF-17 on February 26

Haas will launch its 2017 Formula 1 challenger, the VF-17, on the eve of Formula 1's opening pre-season test.

Haas joined Formula 1 last year and placed eighth in the standings, with Romain Grosjean scoring all of the team's 29 points.

For 2017, Grosjean has been joined by former Renault racer Kevin Magnussen, after Haas opted not to retain Esteban Gutiérrez.

Haas' announcement of its launch on February 26 means only Williams has yet to communicate plans for the unveiling of its FW40.

Sauber will begin the launch period next Monday (February 20), before Renault, Force India and Mercedes unveil their machines on successive days.

Ferrari and McLaren will take the wraps off of their respective challengers next Friday (February 24), with Red Bull and Toro Rosso joining Haas in unveiling on February 26, the day before the first test begins at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

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F1 field pushing for new teams' body

Leading Formula 1 teams are in the early stages of creating a new ‘FOTA-style' body to protect their financial interests and regulatory advantages following the takeover by Liberty Media.

Motorsport.com's sister publication Autosport has learned that a senior F1 team figure is leading moves to gather support for a team body that would act collectively to secure the strongest financial position and benefits for teams currently protected by the 'Constructors' Championship Bonus'.

The CCB applies to Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Ferrari and McLaren and guarantees that those teams receive preferential financial payments from F1's commercial rights holder.

Any move to create a new teams' body would be potentially divisive.

Liberty, which takes control through the newly formed Formula One Group, has identified F1's inequitable payments system as both unfair and a source of conflict, and it has targeted it for reform.

That position would appear to place Liberty at odds with some of the CCB teams and has the potential to give rise to financial disputes.

Existing arrangements with the Bernie Ecclestone-led Formula One Management earned those four teams a 65 percent share of total team payments, with only 35 percent being paid out between the remainder.

While none of the senior team figures contacted by Autosport would confirm on the record that moves are being made to create a new teams' association, none denied that conversations between the teams were already taking place.

One, who did not wish to be named, admitted: "We are prepared to engage in team meetings and discussions, but the progress of those talks may necessarily be somewhat fraught, and [certain CCB teams] may attempt to protect privileged positions."

But he added: "We must all work together for the good of F1 by helping Formula One Group."

The original Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) was formed in 2008 to act as a collective voice at a time when political disputes over how F1 was run by FOM and governing body the FIA had become exceptionally bitter.

It was disbanded in 2014 after waning interest and various breakaways in the wake of deals struck by FOM and CCB teams.

It is unclear how any new body would serve the interests of all teams, rather than acting to serve the interests of the teams that already take the greatest share of F1's revenue.

One independent team boss speculated there could ultimately be two "FOTAs" - one for the CCB teams and another representing independent interests.