Rollin' with Carlos and Max

Funny video with the Toro Rosso boys.

Info about my "Comparing the 2015 teammates" -series

I am continuing with this series right away tomorrow. I just want to say that I will not compare Sauber's or Toro Rosso's teammates with each other because they have just a little or no experience at all in Formula One.


I could say this at least about Sauber's drivers:

Felipe Nasr will dominate Marcus Ericsson in 2015. Why you say? I don't know... just a feeling I have and maybe Nasr is a better driver. I hope the Swede does well though because he seems like a nice guy.

If you want me to say something quick about Toro Rosso's drivers then here goes:

Carlos Sainz Jr. is a bit older than Max Verstappen and has a little more experience so he might have the upper hand. It might look good though if the young Verstappen would be a new superstar. I would really like that!


So now I covered Toro Rosso and Sauber very quickly. Before this I have already compared Mercedes, Lotus, Williams and Force India so I still have to compare the following teams: McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull.

If you haven't read the previous posts then please check out these links:

http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2015/02/comparing-2015-teammates-force-india.html
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2015/02/comparing-2015-drivers-williams.html
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2015/02/comparing-2015-teammates-lotus.html
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2015/02/comparing-2015-teammates-mercedes.html

Sainz to race alongside Verstappen at Toro Rosso in 2015

Scuderia Toro Rosso have announced that Carlos Sainz Junior will partner Max Verstappen in an all-new 2015 driver line-up.

The Spaniard, who recently became the youngest ever winner of the World Series by Renault title, replaces Jean-Eric Vergne who announced his departure from the Italian team earlier this week.

“I am really happy to have landed the drive with Scuderia Toro Rosso,” said Sainz, who at 20 is three years older than new team mate Verstappen.

“Ever since I have been part of Red Bull’s Young Driver Programme, this has been my aim and I want to thank Red Bull for putting their faith in me. I have had a very successful season in World Series by Renault this year and now I am looking forward to taking the step up to Formula One.

“I tested for a day with Toro Rosso last year and I liked the atmosphere in the team. In the next few months I will be working hard on my preparation, ready to get in the cockpit in Jerez for the first test of next year. It will be nice to make my ‘official’ debut as a Formula One driver in my home country!”

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost added: “With Carlos Sainz joining Max Verstappen in our driver line-up next year, we continue the Toro Rosso tradition of providing youngsters from the Red Bull Junior Driver Programme with their first steps in Formula One.

“I have watched Carlos progress through the junior categories, always improving as he moved higher up the ladder, culminating in a well-deserved win in this year’s World Series. However, I also remember the day’s testing he did with us at Silverstone in 2013 in the STR8. He really surprised me and his engineers that day, with his mature approach and his speed.”

The son of double world rally champion Carlos Sainz, Sainz Junior began his single-seater career in Formula BMW, before moving up the ranks through Formula Renault 2.0, British Formula 3 and GP3.

Earlier this week he added to his two previous days of F1 testing by taking the wheel for Red Bull in their final test outing of the year in Abu Dhabi.

(source: f1.com)

DTM champion Wittmann earns Toro Rosso test

Marco Wittmann will enjoy his first taste of Formula One machinery after earning a test with Toro Rosso as a reward for clinching this year's DTM title with BMW.

The 24-year-old German's test was announced by BMW motorsport chief Jens Marquardt following the DTM's season finale at Hockenheim on Sunday.

"It is up to us to reward [Wittmann] for his services," Marquardt said. "Therefore, BMW M GmbH has come up with something special - I am delighted we can make his childhood dream come true with the Formula One test.

"Thanks to good relations with our premium partner Red Bull, we were able to arrange a test drive at Toro Rosso. We are excited to see how he fares in this vehicle!"

Wittmann, who also extended his contract with BMW, told his official website: "I'm overwhelmed. The whole season was amazing; now standing as a DTM champion [with] the contract extension and a Formula One test - this is a dream for me."

Wittmann raced in a variety of single-seater championships prior to his move into saloon cars, and in 2011 finished runner-up to Caterham F1 tester Roberto Merhi in the Formula Three Euro Series.

He switched into the DTM two years later, scoring one podium and finishing eighth overall in his rookie season. He has triumphed four times this year, wrapping up the title with two races to spare.

(source: f1.com)

Verstappen to replace Vergne for FP1 at Suzuka

Toro Rosso’s 2015 signing Max Verstappen will make his Formula One Grand Prix weekend debut this Friday, after the team confirmed he will replace Jean-Eric Vergne for the first practice session in Japan.

The switch, which Toro Rosso first alluded to in August, means Verstappen will drive in an official Grand Prix session just three days after his 17th birthday.

"To already be participating in a practice session is of course a dream come true," said Verstappen, who recently completed a 400-kilometre test in a two-year-old Toro Rosso and has now obtained the mandatory FIA Super Licence.

"It is good preparation for next year, even if it's not something I could have imagined a few months ago."

Despite the likely interest in his first run in Toro Rosso's STR9, Verstappen pledged to ease himself into the 90-minute Suzuka session, saying his focus would be on gaining experience rather than instantly trying to impress the team.

"I am not going there to break any records, I just want to gain experience," he said. "I have actually been to Suzuka before, to take part in a go-kart race on the track that is located next to the main circuit's back straight. My dad has raced at Suzuka many times and he told me it's not an easy track to start on. 

"For me it will be a very valuable experience, spending some time in the car and also getting used to working with everyone in the team, to prepare myself for next year. I have spent one day driving this track on the simulator, which helps a bit, but it's no substitute for driving it for real. 

"My first impression is that it's not an easy track and for example it looks hard to get the combination right in the first esses. I have one and a half hours to drive there and I'm looking forward to doing a good job, for myself and for the team."

Verstappen's FP1 drive completes a whirlwind two months for the Dutchman, who joined Red Bull's junior programme in August, and had his 2015 Toro Rosso drive confirmed just six days later. He is set to become the youngest race driver in F1 history at next year's season-opener in Australia.

Spain’s Jaime Alguersuari currently holds the record for the youngest driver to start a Grand Prix, having made his debut for Toro Rosso - in Hungary 2009 - at the age of 19 years and 125 days.

(source: f1.com)

2014 Italian Grand Prix preview

A picture from the old part of the track (the loop).

Are you ready for the Italian grand prix and the Monza track? This is one of the most legendary tracks in F1 history and it is also Ferrari's home grand prix.

Several Formula One legends have died on this track. The list is long so I shall mention just a few.

• In 1955 the Ferrari legend and two time world champion Alberto Ascari died here during a test session. 
• Wolfgang von Trips and 14 spectators were killed after he collided with Jim Clark in 1961. 
• Jochen Rindt was crowned as the Formula One world champion at the end of the 1970 season. Unfortunately he had passed away before that at Monza. The points were enough to make him the champion.
• The best Swedish F1 driver ever lived was Ronnie Peterson. He died in a hospital after a serious crash at the start of the 1978 Italian grand prix.

The Monza track has changed several times over the years. At first it looked like this:

This was in 1922-1933 before the F1 series even existed. The track was 10 kilometers with 4.5 kilometers in the loop and then 5.5 kilometers on the road track.

Later in 1935-1937 the track was changed and looked like this:

In 1950 the Formula One series started and Monza was the last race on the calendar. The race was won by Nino Farina even though Juan Manuel Fangio had been faster all weekend. Fangio got pole position and set the fastest lap of the race. Unfortunately he retired due to a gear box failure and Farina won the race and the first championship. The track was again different and it looked like this:

In 1955 it looked again like it did in the beginning (with the road- and loop-part). After 1969 the oval part was not used anymore and the track looked about the same it looks today.

The fastest lap on the combined track (in a race) was set in 1960 by the American F1 world champion Phill Hill. The record was 2.41.400 and the time was set with a Ferrari.

The fastest lap on the modern track (in a race) was set by Rubens Barrichello in 2004 and also with a Ferrari. The current record is 1.21.046 and the reason why it is so much faster is that "the loop" is no longer in use.

If we talk about wins then Michael Schumacher is the king of this track. He has won this race 5 times. From the current drivers the king would be Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso because they both have 2 wins from Monza.

Sebastian Vettel took his maiden victory in Monza back in 2008 with Toro Rosso. That was strange if you ask me! To win a race with the former Minardi now known as Toro Rosso.

This year I think the battler between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will continue. Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas will be up there with them taking advantage of the situation.

And now it's time for my predictions and here they are:

Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Race:

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
3. Valtteri Bottas, Williams

Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Surprise: Daniel Ricciardo will have a bad race for a change. I don't think this track is for him.

The bonus for the PREDICTORS LEAGUE: Who will be the last one to retire? My answer is Romain Grosjean, Lotus.

Post your own predictions to our F1-4-LIFE PREDICTORS LEAGUE!

The rules:

POINTS:  1st - 3  2nd - 5  3rd - 10 

HOW IT WORKS: the aim of the game is simply predict who comes where in the race (top3). A total of 18 points can be won on a race day. If you get winner and and 3rd place right but 2nd wrong you get 13 points same if you get 1 correct. eg. 2nd you get 5 points. If a driver wins the race and you said he would come 2nd or 3rd no points would be awarded. Same if he came in another position, and you predicted that wrong. A table will be posted up every race weekend. The point scoring system will change once the cars become more competitive. Everyone will say a merc 1,2 so it won't be close or fun. 

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PREDICTIONS: send an email to f14lifeblog@gmail.com or message the Facebook page to submit your predictions. You have until lights out to make them. If you submit them when the race has started they won't count. So be quick! like the Mercedes. 

THE PRIZE: the winner of the league will win themselves a admin place on the F1 4 LIFE page along side JT, AE, MW & MH. If you don't want to be an admin you are welcome to participate anyway. We may also come up with some other prize if it helps. 

That's it for today and if you want to send me feedback then email me: f14lifeblog@gmail.com

Kvyat honoured by Sochi circuit

Organisers of the 2014 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix have revealed that a grandstand at Sochi Autodrom will be renamed in Daniil Kvyat's honour for his country’s inaugural race later this year.

The announcement was made as Toro Rosso racer Kvyat attended the Sochi Autodrom exhibition at the Moscow International Automobile Salon.

"I was amazed to learn there will be a grandstand bearing my name at the Sochi Autodrom - usually, this is an honour reserved for drivers who have retired, so it is both surprising and a great privilege," said the 20-year-old rookie. 

The Turn 4 grandstand in question is situated on the inside of the 5.853-kilometre circuit, and offers views of the first section of the track, running from the Turn 2 right-hander through Turns 3, 4 and 5.

"I hope that the spectators will enjoy the fantastic view and have a wonderful time over the weekend of the first ever Russian Grand Prix,” added Kvyat. “It will be a historic time for Formula One and for Russia and I can't wait to race in front of my home crowd."

Kvyat became only the second Russian to compete in Formula One racing earlier this year when he made his debut in Australia, scoring his first points with ninth place. He has since claimed top-10 results in Malaysia, China, Great Britain and Belgium, and is currently 15th in the drivers' championship.

Toro Rosso have already confirmed he will retain his drive in 2015, when he will be partnered by Dutch newcomer Max Verstappen.

(source: f1.com)

Comparing the 2014 teammates: Toro Rosso

In the previous "comparing the teammates"-post I promised to compare the Toro Rosso drivers Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniil Kvjat.

Previously I have written about the teammates of Ferrari, Lotus, Red Bull, Force India, Mercedes, Sauber, Williams, Marussia, McLaren and Caterham. So this will be the last one.

If you haven't read the other posts then click on the links below:

http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2013/11/comparing-2014-teammates-scuderia.html
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2013/12/comparing-2014-teammates-red-bull-racing.html
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2013/12/comparing-2014-teammates-lotus.html
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2013/12/comparing-2014-teammates-force-india.html
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-mercedes.html?spref=fb
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-sauber.html?spref=fb
http://www.f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-williams.html
http://www.f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-marussia.html

http://www.f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-mclaren.html

http://www.f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-caterham.html

This time we have a little more experienced driver and then again we have a total newcomer (in Formula One).

The russian newcomer Daniil Kvjat is only 19 years old. He has won the Formula Renault Alps series in 2012 and the GP3-series in 2013. That's all I know about him and that's just because he hasn't had time to achieve more in his short life. From all of the russian drivers I have seen this guy impresses me the most. A new Vettel maybe? Or a complete flop? Tell me what you think.

If we take a look at Jean-Eric Vergne a.k.a. JEV then we have much more to talk about. This guy has driven in Formula One for two seasons already. Let the comparing begin!

I'll write the year, the teammate and how it went in that order. Just the way I have always done.

2012 - Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo got 10 points and had to retire in 1 race that year. Vergne got 16 point and retired in 4 races! In my opinion Ricciardo was totally out of Vergne's league in 2012. JEV was very good but for some reason Ricciardo got all the attention and complements.

2013 - Daniel Ricciardo. This time Ricciardo was much better than the year before. Maybe the Red Bull deal had something to do with it? Ricciardo got 20 points and retired 4 times. JEV got 13 points and retired 6 times.

So the first year Vergne was better and the second year Ricciardo.

If Vergne looses right away to Kvjat it will be very embarrassing for him. Kvjat will get a lot of respect of course.

I am not a fan of neither one of them but I will keep an eye on them that's for sure. I am always very interested in new drivers and how they fit in Formula One.

I have always enjoyed it when a new driver comes to Formula One with a bang. For example Jaques Villeneuve took pole position in his first qualifying ever, Lewis Hamilton was 3rd in his first race, Mark Webber was 5th in a Minardi, Räikkönen, Kubica and Vettel took valuable points for their teams in their first race ever etc.

Let's see how young Kvjat does in his first race...

This was the end of the "comparing"-series. I will post something different tomorrow. 

F1.COM: Four teams set for Bahrain Pirelli tyre test

A three-day tyre test begins on Tuesday at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). The special session was approved by the FIA last week in order to give official suppliers Pirelli more track time to help develop their 2014-specification rubber.

The four teams taking part are Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and Toro Rosso (all 11 were invited, with McLaren and Force India also initially accepting), and drivers due in action include Nico Rosberg, Jules Bianchi and BIC lap record holder, Pedro de la Rosa. All will be at the wheel of 2013-spec cars, driving to a programme dictated by Pirelli.

The dramatic changes to the Formula One regulations for 2014, in particular reduced downforce and the move to more torquey, 1.6-litre V6 engines, means the demands placed on tyres will be very different. This week’s tyre test will be followed by three official pre-season F1 tests, starting at Jerez in Spain at the end of January.

Running for world champions Red Bull in Sakhir will be Swiss racer Sebastien Buemi, recently reconfirmed as the team’s test and reserve driver. Mercedes, meanwhile, will use Nico Rosberg. Team mate Lewis Hamilton will not attend as expected, choosing instead to focus on his winter training programme.

Ferrari will field veteran tester De la Rosa for the first two days, before Marussia racer and Ferrari Driver Academy member Bianchi gets a day in the F138 cockpit on Thursday. Finally, Toro Rosso will run their 2014 race line-up of Jean-Eric Vergne and Russian rookie Daniil Kvyat.

(source: f1.com)

F1 Gp Italie 2008 (FULL) (TF1)

Vettel's first victory ever with Toro Rosso back in 2008.

SPORT BILD: Ricciardo is replacing Webber

German magazine Sport Bild reports that Daniel Ricciardo is going to replace Mark Webber at Red Bull next season. According to the newspaper the Australian Ricciardo contract with Red Bull will be published next weekend at the Belgian GP.

Mark Webber has announced that he will retire from F1 in the end of this season. There has been rumors in the media that Kimi Räikkönen or Fernando Alonso is going to be Vettel's new teammate next season.

24 year old Daniel Ricciardo, who has been Red Bull's protege since 2008 has recently emerged as the strongest candidate. Ricciardo has been a part of Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso since 2012.

Also, the triple world champion Sebastian Vettel came from Toro Rosso to Red Bull in 2009.

This season, Ricciardo has collected 11 world championship points and his best finish was in 7th place at the Chinese Grand Prix.

2013 team standings/points after the Hungarian GP

1	Red Bull Racing-Renault	277
2	Mercedes	208
3	Ferrari	194
4	Lotus-Renault	183
5	Force India-Mercedes	59
6	McLaren-Mercedes	57
7	STR-Ferrari	24
8	Sauber-Ferrari	7
9	Williams-Renault	1
10	Marussia-Cosworth	0
11	Caterham-Renault	0

FIA Friday press conference - Hungary

Toto Wolff, Mercedes GP

Team Representatives - Cyril Abiteboul (Caterham), John Booth (Marussia), Toto Wolff (Mercedes), Claire Williams (Williams), Franz Tost (Toro Rosso).

Read everything from this link: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/7/14838.html

I'm sorry that I didn't find any video material from todays press conference.

I shall post it here if I find something later.

Tomorrow I am going to post the 3rd practice results, qualifying results and some final thoughts before the Grand Prix.

On Sunday I am going to review the Grand Prix and compare the result with my GP-preview that I wrote last Sunday. If you haven't read it then check it out!