Last week I quoted an F1 team boss about all the excitement over the Lotus F1 Team’s suspension system. “If it is illegal we don’t care,” he said, “and if it is legal everyone will soon have it”. The conclusion was that whatever happened it would not be a game-changer in F1 terms.
On Friday the Formula 1 Race Director Charlie Whiting let it be known to the teams that the federation’s interpretation of the rules means that the system cannot be used. That is not actually a rule change, but rather an interpretation and a team can turn up and try to use the system and see what the FIA Stewards would say, but it is generally considered wise to follow such “guidance”. I guess that this has been done in order to stop the question being raised in public protests after the season begins. Rules, these days, are often open to interpretation and so the process of what is “legal” and what is “illegal” is a complicated one, particularly as the FIA does not publish the clarifications that are issued to the teams. It is however better to do things this way than to have messy protests and cars racing under appeal etc etc.
So that little storm in a teacup is over. Now it is a question of seeing which of the teams manage to deliver their cars on time and which of them fail to make it. I am sure all the big teams will be on schedule, but I am keeping an eye on the small fry. I am loathe to even mention HRT these days given the screeds of abuse I get from Spain if I suggest that the team is anything other than magnificent, but I did notice that the team is trying to drum up interest by running a competition called “How much do you know about HRT F1 Team?”. The prize for this is “a whole day of pre-season testing in Barcelona” on Sunday March 4 – so long as you pay the fares to get there and the accommodation.
So, how much do we know about the HRT team?
The team has a base in Valencia, as already mentioned. And it has recruited some people, mainly from the old Renault team. Last I heard the monocoque was still being built at Mubea Carbo Tech GmbH, on the Austro-German border, between Salzburg and Freilassing. This will be called the F112. The actual assembly of all the parts will be done at Holzer Engineering in Bobingen, near Augsburg. The key to whether the team makes it on time for the testing is whether or not the processes are well-managed as it is really about making sure that a selection of sub-contractors deliver on time. This depends largely on money and good management. The team will lose some staff as soon as the manufacturing process is completed as these personnel work for Colin Kolles and are simply on loan to HRT. The cars will be handed over to the HRT operation in Valencia to be raced. There have been lots of rumours about whether or not this will all happen as planned, but the proof of the pudding, as they say in England, is in the eating.
The team has signed a deal with Pedro de la Rosa and is reportedly talking to others, although there is a contract in place with Tonio Liuzzi. We will see what happens.
The Marussia team says that it will not use the 2012 car at the first test, but will go to the first test with the 2011 cars. This will allow Charles Pic to have some track time. The new car is a complete rethink but nothing wildly innovative as the team has concluded that a good solid car is the best option. The new car is due to appear at the second test.
Meanwhile Kimi Raikkonen has already been out in a Lotus, running at Valencia this morning in a two-year-old Renault R30, although this has been liveried up in 2011 colours. Raikkonen is spending two days getting back in sync with F1 machinery. Although testing is banned teams are allowed to use two-year old cars and tyres that are designated for demonstration runs, filming etc. The test will not provide much information, but it will give Kimi the chance to drive an F1 car again.
joeblogsf1 
So the FIA say it is OK, then a few weeks later they turn round and say actually it isn’t.
They should sue the FIA for the development cost they have incurred.
Say $100m… I believe the FIA feel that a fine of that magnitude is OK.
It has been a while since the FIA fined anyone $100 million. And what has changed since then?
Just as an aside
Read GP Saboteurs at the weekend – very disquieting. Probably one of the most affecting WW2 books that I’ve read – maybe due to family history, but as a stand alone book that gives a deep insight into resistance/undercover ops in occupied Paris it is superb. One to be kept and read once a year – Reminds more than most just how close we came.
Lived in Paris myself on and off for 8 years with a fabulous woman – but that’s by the by. But the thought of walking round those streets as a wanted man, continually looking over your shoulder, and because of that exposing your family and loved ones to a pre-emptory visit to Ave Foch knaws at my spine, and knowing the city well is a feeling that won’t go away soon.
A debt of thanks for making such a subtle horror readable.
‘Cheese eating surrender monkeys’ my arse. Probably some of the bravest people in history. They just fought in a different way.
PS – re previous post on visiting old circuits. Found a copy of your GP World Encyclopedia in my own stack of books. had it all the time. Will re-look at and report back.
Glad that you liked it
More than liked it.
The way its written allows the story to seep into you rather than just engage.
A really nice mix of story telling and reportage.
Have a great 2012
A little bird tells me Lotus have failed the side impact crash test and are getting worried about making the first test.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97141
“New Lotus Formula 1 car passes final crash tests”, Monday, January 23rd 2012, 10:43 GMT
And? There are crash tests happening all the time at the moment. We do not report all of them. I don’t report any of them because even a failure is not a problem, unless it happens the day before the first GP
Joe, please feel free to keep criticising HRT, a team mis-managed on that level should be spoken against. Hilarious story about the “prize” competition they’re running also, such generosity!
Kinda suggests their target market is only Spain.
This is a local team for local people…[pop culture reference]
Joe, a few weeks ago you spoke fondly of your memories from the 80s and the fun you had following the likes of Luis Perez-Sala et al on their racing adventures round Europe. Have you had the opportunity to speak to him since he was appointed boss at HRT, and if so ask him directly about the plans he has?
No, I have not. I have been here, there and everywhere.
Would it not be a nice thing to do to make use of the apparently cordial relations you have with Sala to clear up the situation at HRT? As you have noted, there seems to be a degree of ‘jumping down your throat’ from some when you post negative-sounding comments about HRT, but as someone who has lambasted other so-called journalists for publishing innuendo, rumour and re-hashed press releases, wouldn’t it be good to check out the situation for yourself? I too am sceptical about their apparent (or perhaps not-so-apparent!) plans and it is true to say they appear naive. But, as my name suggests, I have an affinity with the ‘underdog’ teams and Sala in particular and think there is a fine line between providing a realistic take on developments and sounding like you want the team to fail.
I have already checked out the situation myself. I would not expect the top people to tell me the whole truth – it is not in their interest to do so. I have sources inside the team who tell me what is happening. I am happy to be cordial with the management. It is nationalist dreamers who are being difficult.
Trying to be nice to HuRT today,
Their lockup arches may suck stones, but it’s honest, and I don’t care if it means the team can run. I simply hope they downsized their accommodation *in advance* of needing to. If they did, then my respect. Hopefully the space is practical.
As for the prize – if – you – can – pay – your – way, well, if it really means you get shown around, it’s a good prize. Few teams do more than a dog and pony show for VIPs or the telly. Also, if the winner pulls out, it can go to the next from the draw or whatever, and whoever enters prequalifies as a dedicated fan. Convert some of those and that’s a fair start. They have essentially lost the conventional promotion battle, so get word of mouth going.
What I think they should do is play seriously on this underdog “I get no respect” thing. Get a really “in” PR who can gently tease how far up their posteriors other teams can be. I’d offer my services, but on a precondition: that they actually brand themselves HURT. That is for several reasons. First that their 12 step has to start with some self realization. Second, the angles on “no pain no gain” are plenty and very usable. Third, well, why not? Third and a biggie half, they need to take control off their nicknames which suffocate any PR they do. Fourth, it’s about time F1 had some more fun, and someone played the self deprecating joker. They can surely just rearrange their livery, as opposed to change the entered team name, though I do not know if they structured their financing as a sponsor deal as some teams have done.
Oh, and all of that could be played to good effect if they keep Liuzzi. Does he not HuRT, after his experience with Mr Maybe Payya?
There’s also a general thing of Oily Hands, Shiny Cars. We moan enough that F1 is too remote from human life forms.
Putting the word hurt on a car will still be highly controversial, but for all that it will stir up, it also highlights just how far we have come with car safety. Not for the feint hearted, this idea, but in the nothing to loose category of saving the day, I think it’s far from a bad plan. Silence, or inept mumbling, or just sneaking into cheap student digs and having that splashed unfavorably, is doing far worse than nothing for their sponsor chances.
by “self deprecating joker”, allow me to clarify,
Never go full EJ.
Reminds me of the god-awful film Tropic Thunder.
And in my experience, Spaniards aren’t much good at self-deprecating and are much happier with confidence / arrogance, see also: Fernando Alonso.
On a serious note:
Joe, given Marussia and Mercedes are planning to run the first test with a 2011 car, I presume this means that the 2011 chassis has passed the 2012 crash tests?
What, Tropic Thunder no good? I am totally for channeling it. The whole actor playing an actor taking the mickey out of Mel Gibson imitating a black dude thing, against another actor who is dumb playing dumb and not realizing he is is simply lost (being lost the general theme) is quite apt for HuRT, right down to the pretensions.
In these Texting as a Modern Language days, you only have to infer the vowel. As in “H’RT” (and some better kerning than that)
I was being quite serious, and not even tongue in cheek. *Something* has to give with that team, if they’re to live, and I would start with any pretenses that may still be malingering. Yup, I hear you on the confidence / arrogance thing. But I knew one, a mad mad mad petrol head, who had the modest humorous side down pat. Hrrrrm, too much fantasy PR team building going on, John!
I have simply no idea about the crash tests. The way it’s been fluffed up, and with no real information, I’m simply waiting to hear the binary result.
But to your point, I hazard the point of yearly crash tests is to test the _current specifications. Therefore the only need to go for new crash tests is if things have changed. Which if you take your last – known – good chassis, unaltered, means you can just carry on.
Except that :
a) the crash tests have changed;
b) the FIA have insisted all teams pass before they run the car, even in testing.
Of course, the 2011 Mercedes and Marussia tubs might be tough enough. But with teams failing the crash tests at the first try one could suspect that they won’t be.
Believe me, the crash test are irrelevant.
To me “The full EJ” means placing a large concrete block in the driveway/entrance/arch of the company that owes you rent, preventing access until paid.
I thought it meant you wake up one day, wonder why the car doesn’t start, and have to go chasing your engine across the dail with a hangover. “Here, yer feck, I paid the tab!” But then I’m giggling to much to go for a accurate definition 🙂
I very much appreciate the spirit of HuRT and the brilliance of the idea behind it.
Now that you’ve given the idea away, I can’t help but wonder if HaRloT might lead to more interesting livery… and trigger some (hopefully self-reflective) controversy throughout the club 😉
Then I revise,
“Here, yer fek, ya HaRloT, I paid the tab and you run away . . Feisigh do thoin lump!”
p.s., I was always very careful around girls called Charlotte. Not one ever explained what “Ch” meant. I have some reason . .
Here’s how:
start with the back of the rear wing (remember testing play abouts not long ago?) in simple type:
== DON’T HURT ==
Don’t need to tell the crowd here other resonances, but:
1. we got around the pain – accident worry. It’s a safety message.
2. Obviously just testing, i think you can put what you like on the car then.
3. Pitch some pharma companies who sell friendly things.
4. Put some effing pace on, and that’s a nice warning to whoever is behind, and moreover a up yours to lapping cars, who are all up their whoojamaflips anyway. If you’re going to have fast cars up your tail, make use of their onboard cams and long angles for the pass.
5. well i fancy a break and a nice drink . .
Disclaimer: I write what I do here for fun, and only that. I am aware of cases where fan fiction prevented clearance for story lines in big budget SF action. But if you want to steal this, go ahead, or I’ll write you a disclaimer. I’m fed up with the bashing, so go sort yourselves out. Oh, and DON’T HURT, okay?
Actually, eff it, if you can go with DON’T HURT you can get sports kit companies in. Think how Phil Knight started. And I have a smashed big toe . .
Last year at the Australian GP, Virgin had some tours to be won through the Aus GP’s twitter feed. As I managed to snag a spot, it was a reasonable look through. You got to walk through (almost) the entire garage and see all the prep areas for engines and gearboxes (no photos at that point) and then out into the front of garage area. It was more than enough for the average spectator who would likely never know about most of it.
For me, as I’ve been in about half the garage (though not Virgin’s) area previously, it was as interesting watching the other people’s reactions.
kitchen cynic – check out Autosport this morning, Lotus have passed all impact tests and can test at will with the others…
Joe, will Kimi come back as before, not really interested, or will he come back with a renewed vigor and give it a shot, similar to how he was at McLaren in 2005 in your opion???
I understand why the FIA have banned these devices on grounds that they are made to improve aerodynamic performance. What I find very shameful to the sport is that every technical innovation that was thought of in the last 5 years have been either reversed, banned or restricted in such a way that it can hardly be used to increase performance.
One of the reasons I watch F1, not the main reason but just one of them, is the technical innovation. And by banning/restricting every technical innovation that a team can think of encourages teams not to invest in innovative things anymore. Soon innovation will only be available for the rich teams because chances are big that it’s going to be a waste of money. I understand the need to restrict the development costs and not to let the performance increase go out of control but restricting innovation like it is done nowadays does in my view more damage to the sport. Innovation is one of the things that sets F1 apart from almost every other series.
Maybe I should start following the Formula E series, a series where there are only restrictions on the weight of the battery and dimensions of the car and nothing else.
Joe, do you have any information about how well KR actually did this morning?
Using an old car and deomstration tyres it is going to be hard to say. I am sure he did fine.
Presumably the demo tyres are Pirelli so any comparison to 2010 Renault (Bridgestone) performances would sketchy at best.
I have a quietly good feeling about Marussia this year. i think they’ll still be where they were at the start of the year, but i have a lot of respect for Pat Symonds, despite the Piquet business, and I foresee some lower top-10 finishes with any luck.
I’d like to see everyone score this year, but then again F1 isn’t a hippy free-for-all
I don’t understand why LPS and PDLR have put themselves into this HRT mess; with their overall personal backgrounds they don’t need it at all.
Isn’t it a joke that the FIA bans this Lotus F1 System, as it was kinda devolved with the approval of FIA? This has to be bad for Lotus, since they could have used their resources on other parts of the car.
If the FIA thinks the rules are not being respected, it is their call. Lotus can challenge that interpretation if they wish
do renault own any part of a F1 team or are they just an engine supplier now
They own nothing
Surely the HRT competition is just a big con?! In the past they have simply shaken down their car at the first race and never got their cars to the tests in time. Poor old Willis even had to lie through his teeth about components being held up at customs.
Unless of course, they’re going to show some ‘lucky people’ an empty garage…
Joe,
With “Mubea Carbo Tech GmbH” having manufactured the monocoque and “Holzer” assembling all the parts together, would that also include the Williams; Gearbox ,Kers and perhaps suspension layout being assembled by Holzer too?