Kinetic energy storage helps F1 teams
Regenerating energy to meet the demands of new F1 regulations is now entering the fast lane
New F1 regulations come into force with the 2009 season – and the front-runner to meet these stringent demands is a flywheel kinetic energy storage system, both powered and delivering power through a Torotrak continuously variable transmission,
According to Tony Purnell, technical consultant to the FIA and the man entrusted with the job of making the sport more road relevant: “Car manufacturers are already working flat out to develop optimal low emission engines and there is little that engine development programmes in F1 will add to this effort.
“However, in five years or so, their attention will turn more and more to subsidiary devices incorporating energy recovery. By opening up this area now, Formula One can make a real different to this important facet of future car technology.”
source: click here
If you want to read more on the subject go to Motor Authority
I provided some pictures describing the concept
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Friday, February 29, 2008
Brake energy regeneration in F1 by 2009
Thursday, February 28, 2008
F1 History in pictures! Part 2
Here is the continuing of previous post historical photos (more coming)
F1 History in pictures! Part 2
As you will see I don't know all the names of drivers and/or when the photo was taken, so if you know you can leave a comment below (no registration needed, all can comment). And even if you don't know I will still appreciate any given comment!
pic 1: James Hunt sitting whit a girl 1976
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pic 1: Nigel Mansell Williams-honda Silverstone 1987
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pic 1: Jackie Stewart tyrrell
pic 2: Jody Schekter ferrari
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pic 1: Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Alonso not convinced after racism storm at Formula One test
Fernando Alonso says he is still not convinced about the recent racism scandal involving some of his fanatical Spanish countrymen and Lewis Hamilton.
The Spaniard was asked by the radio station Cadena SER if he thinks the affair was exaggerated in the press following his falling out with his former McLaren teammate last season.
"I think so," Alonso, who is 26, answered.
F1's governing body condemned the acts of bigotry at the Barcelona test earlier this month, threatening to deprive Spain of formula one and promising to launch an anti-racism campaign at the grand prix there in April.
But Alonso dismissed the group that blacked out their faces as overzealous revellers of 'Carnival', and now expresses scepticism about the apparent verbal taunts directed at Hamilton.
"If you don't know exactly what happened, it is difficult (to comment on)," the Renault driver said. "I have not seen any of that on video.
"If it turns out that it did happen, then of course it must be totally condemned," he added.
Alonso also makes a link between the abuse suffered by Hamilton in Barcelona, and the 23-year-old British driver's declaration one week earlier that he would be using Alonso's behaviour in 2007 as an example of "how not to behave" in F1.
"One week after he said that, he was in Spain," Alonso observed. "That is the other side of the situation. If you talk like that it is normal that things can happen."
Alonso also said his relationship with Hamilton has not changed since he left McLaren last year.
"It is the same as before -- non-existent," the Spaniard remarked.
source: click here
A few pictures of the "incident"
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pic 1: "Hablas demasiado bolachancu" a banner held by Alonso fans
pic 2: "Alonso you will never walk alone" a banner held by Alonso fans
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pic 1: "Hamilton Familly (Family)" black colored Fernando Alonso fans
pic 2: "Hamilton Familly (Family)" black colored Fernando Alonso fans
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pic 1: "I will never buy Mercedes, I will never make bussiness with Botin and I will never scrap Vodafone" Banner made by Fernando Alonso fans.
pic 2: Sheets hang by Alonso fans
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pic 1: "Hamilton: Press the right button, and keep away from the gravel" Sheet by Alonso Fans
pic 2: Fans greeting Fernando Alonso
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
PF1's Team-By-Team Guide To Winter Testing; Part 4
The new season is just a few weeks away and so it's time to ask just who has been starring in winter testing and who has been flopping. The answers require a bit of guesswork - but that has never stopped PF1 before... There's no doubting their ambition or that the F1.08 can go faster. Once the team discover how to dial the instability that has aggravated both Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica during testing then the timesheets may take on a whole new perspective. What They're Saying: "We are not getting closer to Ferrari and McLaren, but we are breathing down the neck of Renault, Williams and Red Bull. We still have problems. The car is too unstable. Sometimes we are not as good as in the timesheet say and sometimes we are better than the times suggest" - Nick Heidfeld. RENAULT The big question is whether Alonso can inspire the sort of six-tenths improvement he claimed to have brought to McLaren last year. The second-biggest question is whether even that would be sufficient to win races. At least Fernando won't have to worry about his team-mate this year: Nelson Piquet junior has been a long way behind the former World Champion as he gets to grip with the R28. What They're Saying: "At the moment, there is not any possibility to fight for podiums or wins, or things like that, so that is the first priority of this winter tests and the first race. To close the gap, and to be behind them [Ferrari and McLaren] two or three tenths is not such a big problem. But to be one second or eight tenths, like we are at the moment, is a little bit too much" - Fernando Alonso. What They're Saying: "It's difficult to tell. I think we are around the package where maybe Williams, Renault and Red Bull are. But it's difficult to say anyway whether they are still in front of us. I'd say that's possible but it's difficult to say. You have never a really clear picture of the tests so it could be that we are in that group, it could be that we are maybe slightly behind" - Timo Glock. Author: Pete Gill Some pictures of testing in Jerez, Valencia and Barcelona!
BMW
It is a measure of BMW's rapid advance in the past two seasons that their winter commentary has been so gloomy. Rather than highlight the positives - namely, their proximity to Renault and Williams as the best of the rest - the team has repeatedly bemoaned the gap to McLaren and Ferrari instead.
Despite suggestions that they are sandbagging, the probability is that Renault are genuinely struggling to keep pace with Ferrari and McLaren. Even after the return of prodigal son Fernando Alonso, the team have consistently trailed the top two by over half a second. In other words, the situation from 2007 is unchanged.
TOYOTA
An ordinary-looking car and ordinary-looking times. Head-to-head with Ferrari at the end of January in Bahrain, they trailed the World Champions by over a second. How do you ask for 'value for money' in Japanese?
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pic 1: Robert Kubica BMW Sauber F1.08 Testing at Jerez (16-01-2008)
pic 2: Nick Heidfeld BMW-Sauber F1.08 testing at Barcelona (06-02-08)
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pic 1: Fernando Alonso at Jerez back with Renault testing at Jerez (14-01-2008)
pic 2: Fernando Alonso at Jerez back with Renault testing at Jerez (14-01-2008)
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pic 1: Fernando Alonso Renault R28 Testing at Valencia (23-01-2008)
pic 2:Fernando Alonso Renault R28 Testing at Valencia (23-01-2008)
source: F1-Fansite
PF1's Team-By-Team Guide To Winter Testing; Part 3
The new season is just a few weeks away and so it's time to ask just who has been starring in winter testing and who has been flopping. The answers require a bit of guesswork - but that has never stopped PF1 before... The time set by Kimi Raikkonen in Bahrain was two seconds faster than the one required to land pole position last year. Reliability, if not, complacency may be their biggest threat - Luca Badoer failed to finish the exclusive behind-closed-doors race simulation carried out by the team last week at Barcelona due to an oil leak. What They're Saying: "We are very consistent. To drive a car like this F2008 is fantastic. It's already really quick. But the most interesting aspect is that I noticed this quickness in both race trim and in the more extreme qualifying trim. And in both situations it's always very easy on the tyres, it doesn't destroy them" - Kimi Raikkonen. Having joined the team approximately six months after its latest non-charging charger was designed, Ross Brawn's input into the RA107 has been minimal and he could be forgiven for already questioning his wisdom in agreeing to join the Brackley outfit. Winter testing has been so dire that already there is team-sanctioned talk of Honda writing off 2008 to enable Brawn to concentrate on finding a route back to respectability in 2009. But will Jenson Button be willing to wait that long? In the short-term, the team will have their fingers crossed that Super Aguri can be saved. It is probably the only way that the A-team can be saved from the ignominy of starting the Australian GP from the back of the grid alongside Force India. What They're Saying: "I think we have to be realistic and say our objective this year is to score some points, to get the team respectable again, to consolidate the team and get everything functioning in the team properly again, so if we win this year it will be very lucky. But we have to look at 2009 and 2010. We have a plan now and a programme and I am feeling reasonably confident about the programme. Today we don't have a car to win, we will see what happens during the year, but in 2009 and 2010 we can be more optimistic" - Ross Brawn. Author: Pete Gill
FERRARI
Still the team to beat. Ferrari enter 2008 as favourites to retain of both their World Championships having been the dominant force over winter testing.
HONDA
A disaster story. Last year's car was very bad and so the very, very bad news is that, based on the evidence to date, this year's might be even worse.
Some pictures of testing in Bahrain, Fiorano, Valencia and Barcelona!
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pic 1: Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari F2008 testing at Bahrain (06-02-08)
pic 2: Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari F2008 testing at Bahrain (06-02-08)
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pic 1: Filipe Massa Ferrari F2008 testing at Bahrain (06-02-08)
pic 2: Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari F2008 Testing at Fiorano (06-01-2008)
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pic 1: Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari F2008 Testing at Valencia (24-01-2008)
pic 2: Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari F2008 Testing at Valencia (24-01-2008)
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pic 1: Filipe Massa Ferrari F2008 Testing at Fiorano (06-01-2008)
pic 2: Filipe Massa Ferrari F2008 Testing at Valencia (24-01-2008)
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pic 1: Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari F2008 Testing at Fiorano (06-01-2008)
pic 2: Rubens Barrichello Honda RA108 testing at Barcelona (06-02-08)
PF1's Team-By-Team Guide To Winter Testing; Part 2
The new season is just a few weeks away and so it's time to ask just who has been starring in winter testing and who has been flopping. The answers require a bit of guesswork - but that has never stopped PF1 before... What They're Saying: "Since I first drove the car, we've made significant steps forward, especially in the car's set-up. The Force India has potential and there will be new aerodynamics already at the Barcelona test" - Giancarlo Fisichella. Another intriguing, closely-matched contest emerging from the timesheets is Hamilton v new team-mate Heikki Kovalainen. Hamilton's sixth-tenths advantage on Monday was a rare comprehensive difference in their pace. What They're Saying: "You could say that Ferrari and McLaren are the favourites, but so were they last year. However, within a week another team can be right up there. I won't discard BMW and Renault who will be fighting for victories. As far as Ferrari are concerned, I don't think they are as good as everyone is making them out to be, while Renault are not as far behind as Fernando is saying" - Pedro de la Rosa. Nonetheless, they apparently remain adrift of the second-tier of Williams/Renault/BMW and that constitutes a grave disappointment. What They're Saying: "I think that anyone who expects anything different than McLaren or Ferrari to be setting the pace at the beginning of the season, I would be extremely surprised. What's not clear for us at the moment is where we fit into that mix, with BMW and Toyota and Renault and all those guys. And it might not even be completely apparent in Melbourne because it's a particular track. But I think by the time we're gotten through the first three grands prix, in Melbourne, Malaysia and Bahrain, we'll have a very clear picture of who are the pacesetters and what the pecking order is down the field" - David Coulthard. What They're Saying: "The testing we've done so far indicated we are around the middle part of the grid. This means two things, the first very positive and the second one needs to be verified: first of all we are already almost ready for the first race in Melbourne, but at the same time we must consider that our rivals will further improve in the meantime and this must keep us on our toes" - Team manager Massimo Rivola. Author: Pete Gill
FORCE INDIA
Too early to say. The VJM01 only made its on-track debut this week - which is less than three weeks before the season begins. On a more encouraging note, it performed respectably and there are optimistic noises of further development propelling the team towards the midfield within a couple of months.
McLAREN
The sight of Lewis Hamilton ahead of both Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher on the first day of this week's test at Barcelona was an unexpected fillip for a team still coming to terms with last year's capitulation. It may also have been flatteringly deceptive - it's thought that although McLaren and Ferrari are well matched over a single lap, the World Champions boast a significant advantage over long runs (something that doesn't show up, of course, on the end-of-day timesheets).
RED BULL
There's no credible evidence of a dramatic breakthrough to speak of despite the 'dream team' alliance of Adrian Newey and Geoff Willis but at least the RB4 has proved more reliable over the winter than its gremlin-friendly predecessor.
TORO ROSSO
Threatening to keep pace with the mother team, Red Bull, without offering much of an impression on the rest of the grid. Still, if winter testing is any guide, the battle between the two Sebastians, Bourdais and Vettel, should be good fun to watch. 
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pic 1: David Coulthard Red Bull RB4 Testing at Jerez (16-01-2008)
pic 2: Mark Webber Red Bull RB4 Testing at Jerez (16-01-2008)
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pic 1: Heikki Kovalainen McLaren MP423 Testing at Jerez (14 01 2008)
pic 2: Heikki Kovalainen McLaren MP423 Testing at Jerez (14 01 2008)
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pic 1: Lewis Hamilton McLaren MP423 Testing at Jerez (14 01 2008)
pic 2: Giancarlo Fisichella Force India VJM-01 testing at Barcelona (06-02-08)
Source for pic: F1-Fansite
PF1's Team-By-Team Guide To Winter Testing; Part 1
The new season is just a few weeks away and so it's time to ask just who has been starring in winter testing and who has been flopping. The answers require a bit of guesswork - but that has never stopped PF1 before... Nonetheless, they apparently remain adrift of the second-tier of Williams/Renault/BMW and that constitutes a grave disappointment. What They're Saying: "I think that anyone who expects anything different than McLaren or Ferrari to be setting the pace at the beginning of the season, I would be extremely surprised. What's not clear for us at the moment is where we fit into that mix, with BMW and Toyota and Renault and all those guys. And it might not even be completely apparent in Melbourne because it's a particular track. But I think by the time we're gotten through the first three grands prix, in Melbourne, Malaysia and Bahrain, we'll have a very clear picture of who are the pacesetters and what the pecking order is down the field" - David Coulthard. What They're Saying: "The testing we've done so far indicated we are around the middle part of the grid. This means two things, the first very positive and the second one needs to be verified: first of all we are already almost ready for the first race in Melbourne, but at the same time we must consider that our rivals will further improve in the meantime and this must keep us on our toes" - Team manager Massimo Rivola. What They're Saying:"The car is better and faster than last year's. But we can still see there is a good gap between Ferrari and ourselves, so we have got a lot of work to do" - Patrick Head. Author: Pete Gill
RED BULL
There's no credible evidence of a dramatic breakthrough to speak of despite the 'dream team' alliance of Adrian Newey and Geoff Willis but at least the RB4 has proved more reliable over the winter than its gremlin-friendly predecessor.
TORO ROSSO
Threatening to keep pace with the mother team, Red Bull, without offering much of an impression on the rest of the grid. Still, if winter testing is any guide, the battle between the two Sebastians, Bourdais and Vettel, should be good fun to watch.
WILLIAMS
The winter's big improvers. The FW30 has frequently finished above Renault and BMW in the timesheets - although Nakajima's table-topping effort in Barcelona last week was courtesy of a near-empty fuel tank. The team is attempting to dampen down talk of a resurgence, especially after Nakajima suffered a front-wing failure in Spain, but it would be no surprise if Sir Frank's boys are the third-fastest outfit in Melbourne. And the great thing about Williams is that the certainty that, even after their recent travails, being third-fastest will still be regarded as failure.
Some pictures of the testing and practise in Jerez and Valencia!
pic 1: David Coulthard Red Bull R28 testing at Jerez (13-02-08)
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pic 1: Mark Webber Red Bull R28 testing at Jerez (13-02-08)
pic 2: Mark Webber Red Bull R28 testing at Jerez (13-02-08)
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pic 1: Nico Hülkenberg Williams FW30 Testing at Valencia (24-01-2008)
pic 2: Nico Hülkenberg Williams FW30 Testing at Valencia (24-01-2008)
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pic 1: Nico Hülkenberg Williams FW30 Testing at Valencia (24-01-2008)
pic 2: Kazuki Nakajima Special Williams FW29 testing at Jerez (14-01-2008)
Source for pic: F1-Fansite
Monday, February 25, 2008
Williams Tribute, handwritten best wishes!
Revealing the fifth in a series of six anniversarial racing liveries today at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, two Williams FW30s will take to the track carrying the handwritten best wishes of the team’s seven World Champion drivers.
Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve all sent the team personal congratulations as it embarks on its fourth decade of Formula One and at the Italian Grand Prix later this year, will record its 500th Grand Prix start.
With comments as suitably Australian as “I was the first” from Alan Jones to Nigel Mansell’s “Fabulous 28 wins, Red Five”, the livery is a celebration of some of the most evocative and talented names to have graced the sport in the past thirty years.
The 1982 World Champion, Keke Rosberg, for his part commented, “Thanks….for 4 great years” and Alain Prost, Williams’ 1993 Champion added, “Many thanks to all the team – I was proud to win my last World Championship with you.” The team’s most recent title winners, Damon Hill (1996) and Jacques Villeneuve (1997) said in turn “Thanks Frank” and “Thanks for 3 amazing years and the Championship.”
In addition to the good wishes from the seven World Champions, the thirty one drivers who have raced for the team in nearly as many years will grace the monocoque top, including names such as Ayrton Senna, Mario Andretti, Carlos Reutemann and Clay Regazzoni to current racers including Jenson Button, Juan Pablo Montoya and David Coulthard.
| Driver | Years of Service | WF1Races | WF1 Wins |
| *Alan Jones | 4 (‘78 – ’81) | 60 | 11 |
| Clay Regazzoni | 1 (’79) | 15 | 1 |
| Carlos Reutemann | 3 (’80 – ’82) | 31 | 3 |
| *Keke Rosberg | 4 (’82 – ’85) | 47 | 5** |
| Mario Andretti | 1 GP (‘82) | 1 | 0 |
| Derek Daly | 12 GPs (’82) | 12 | 0 |
| Jacques Lafitte | 2 (’83 – ‘84) | 29 | 0 |
| Jonathan Palmer | 1 GP (’83) | 1 | 0 |
| *Nigel Mansell | 7 (’84 – ‘88 & ’91 – ‘92 & 4 GPs '94) | 95 | 28 |
| *Nelson Piquet | 2 (’86 – ’87) | 31 | 7 |
| Riccardo Patrese | 5 (’88 – ’92 & 1GP ’87) | 81 | 4 |
| Martin Brundle | 1 GP (’88) | 1 | 0 |
| Jean Lois Schlesser | 1 GP (’88) | 1 | 0 |
| Thierry Boutsen | 2 (’89 – ’90) | 32 | 3** |
| *Damon Hill | 4 (’93 – ’96) | 65 | 21 |
| *Alain Prost | 1 (’93) | 16 | 7 |
| Ayrton Senna | 3 GPs (’94) | 3 | 0 |
| David Coulthard | 1 (’95 & 8 GPs ’94) | 25 | 1 |
| *Jacques Villeneuve | 3 (’96 – ’98) | 49 | 11** |
| Heinz-Harald Frentzen | 2 (’97 – ’98) | 33 | 1 |
| Ralf Schumacher | 6 (’99 – ’04) | 96 | 6* |
| Alex Zanardi | 1 (’99) | 16 | 0 |
| Jenson Button | 1 (’00) | 17 | 0 |
| Juan Pablo Montoya | 4 (’01 – ’04) | 68 | 4 |
| Marc Gené | 3 GPs (1 ’03 & 2 ’04) | 3 | 0 |
| Antonio Pizzonia | 9 GPs (4 ’04 & 5 ’05) | 9 | 0 |
| Mark Webber | 2 (’05 – ’06) | 36 | 0 |
| Nick Heidfeld | 1 (’05) | 18 | 0 |
| Nico Rosberg | 2 (’06 – today) | 35 | 0 |
| Alex Wurz | 16 GPs (’07) | 16 | 0 |
| Kazuki Nakajima | 1 GP (’07 – today) | 1 | 0 |
* World Champions
** Total career wins, all won with Williams F1
Source: click here
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