Caterham F1 Team first 2014 Renault V6 engine fire-up

What do you think about the new McLaren?

Force India sign Juncadella to reserve driver role

Force India have signed Spaniard Daniel Juncadella as their reserve driver for the 2014 season.

The 22-year-old, who races in Germany’s DTM series for Mercedes and is a former European Formula 3 champion, will attend all races with the team and take part in several Friday practice sessions to gain experience behind the wheel of the team’s new VJM07 machine.

“Daniel is an exciting prospect and I am delighted to welcome him to Sahara Force India,” said Force India’s team principal and managing director Vijay Mallya.

“Over the last few years we have always tried to support young, talented drivers and we will continue down this path by giving Daniel the opportunity to drive the VJM07 on Friday mornings at selected races. Daniel will also play an important role in our simulator programme at the factory, which remains an increasingly important development tool.”

Juncadella, who has previous F1 test experience with Williams, said that it was a dream come true to join the Silverstone-based team.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to learn and will hopefully take me a step closer to eventually racing in Formula One,” he said. “To work with the team at the track and in the factory will give me some valuable experience and I will do my best to make a contribution to help the team achieve its goals in 2014.”

Force India’s new driver pairing Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez are expected to share driving duties at next week’s first pre-season test in Jerez, which runs from January 28-31.

(source: f1.com)

Marussia to attend Jerez test with new car

Marussia have become the latest team to confirm their attendance at next week’s pre-season test in Jerez.

The Banbury-based team will run their new Ferrari-powered MR03 machine in Spain, with Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton expected to share driving duties.

The news that Marussia will be in Jerez leaves Lotus as the only squad who will not run their 2014 car during the January 28-31 session.

Full details on the 2014 launch schedule and pre-season tests…

2014 car launches / roll-outs

Team	Date	Venue
McLaren	January 24	Online
Ferrari	January 25	Online
Sauber	January 26	Online
Toro Rosso	January 27	Jerez, Spain
Mercedes	January 28	Jerez, Spain
Caterham	January 28	Jerez, Spain
Red Bull	January 28	Jerez, Spain
Force India	January 28	Jerez, Spain
Marussia	January 28	Jerez, Spain
Williams	January 28	Jerez, Spain
Lotus	TBC	TBC

Pre-season testing

Venue	Provisional dates
Jerez, Spain	January 28-31
Sakhir, Bahrain	February 19-22
Sakhir, Bahrain	February 27-March 2																	(source: f1.com)

Force India first to reveal their 2014 car

 

Force India have become the first team to release a picture of their new car, giving fans an initial chance to see how 2014’s radical regulation changes have shaped the look of Formula One cars.

The most obvious differences between the new Mercedes-powered VJM07 and last year’s VJM06 are the mandatory lower nose and the striking new black, orange and green livery. However, the Silverstone-based team's technical director Andrew Green is quick to emphasise just how different the new car is compared to its predecessor.

“Almost every single part is a new design, from the front wing right back to the diffuser,” he said. “The genetics of the VJM07 still lie in the 2013 car, but we've had to achieve the same results in a slightly different way.”

Team principal Vijay Malya hailed the ‘aggressive’ look of his team’s 2014 challenger.

“The VJM07 looks stunning and the new livery reflects the way Sahara Force India is evolving,” he said. “I’ve always believed our cars have been the most eye-catching, but adding black as a main colour gives us a fierce new look.

“The new rules have presented us with a huge challenge, but I’m very proud of the approach we have taken and the direction of the technical team. It will be fascinating to see how different teams have interpreted the rules and at this stage it’s impossible to predict who has done the best job.”

Force India will officially present the VJM07 at next week’s first pre-season test in Jerez, Spain, where it will be put through its paces by the team's all-new driver line-up of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez.

(source: f1.com)

The 2014 driver lineup!

Red Bull:

Sebastian Vettel

Daniel Ricciardo

Mercedes:

Lewis Hamilton

Nico Rosberg

Ferrari:

Fernando Alonso

Kimi Räikkönen

Lotus:

Romain Grosjean

Pastor Maldonado

McLaren:

Jenson Button

Kevin Magnussen

Toro Rosso:

Jean-Eric Vergne

Daniil Kvyat

Williams:

Felipe Massa

Valtteri Bottas

Marussia:

Jules Bianchi

Max Chilton

Sauber:

Adrian Sutil

Esteban Gutierrez

Force India:

Nico Hulkenberg

Sergio Perez

Caterham:

Kamui Kobayashi

Marcus Ericsson

Kobayashi and Ericsson to race for Caterham in 2014

 

Caterham will field an all-new driver line-up this year after confirming that Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi and Swedish rookie Marcus Ericsson will spearhead their 2014 campaign.

Kobayashi, 27, is a veteran of 60 Grand Prix starts and joins the Leafield-based team after spending a year away from F1, during which he raced sportscars for Ferrari. He made his F1 debut for Toyota in 2009, before spending three seasons at Sauber, the last of which, in 2012, yielded his only F1 podium finish to date in Japan.

"It's a great feeling to be back as an F1 race driver and I'm really pleased it's with Caterham F1 Team,” said Kobayashi. “We've been talking to Cyril (Abiteboul, Caterham team principal) and Tony (Fernandes, Caterham chairman) since last year about driving for the team for 2014 and beyond.

“Throughout all our discussions I've been very impressed with where they want to take the team and how much investment has been made already to help them achieve their goals. For me, it's a great honour that the team hired me based on the value I bring in racing terms and the experience I have.

“I am so happy that I am able to make this announcement today. I will do my very best to lead the team and work as hard as possible to achieve our targets.”

Ericsson, 23, steps up to Grand Prix racing from GP2 after spending four seasons in the junior category. His only F1 experience to date came in 2009 when he tested for Brawn GP shortly after winning the Japanese Formula Three crown.

“This is a very proud day for me and everyone who has helped make my F1 dream come true,” said Ericsson, who will be the first Swede to race in F1 since Stefan Johansson in 1991.

“I'll be making the step up to F1 with Caterham F1 Team in 2014 and I'm already excited about the season ahead, and the first race in Australia in particular.

"It's obviously great for Sweden that we'll have a Swedish driver back on the grid in 2014. This is what I've been working for since I first started racing karts back when I was nine years old, and now I know I'm ready for the step up to F1.

“Caterham is a young team and together we can take on the challenges the new rules will present in 2014 - learning together and continuing to develop as the season progresses.”

Team principal Cyril Abiteboul said he was delighted to finally reveal Caterham’s 2014 line-up after a period of lengthy deliberation.

“The process may have taken longer than we’d have liked, but we didn’t want or need to be rushed into such important decisions and we have been in the happy position of having a wide range of drivers to choose from,” he said.

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to bring Kamui back. He is a very popular driver and it’s very good for the whole team we’ve been able to attract such an exciting driver to join us at a critical point in our development. His pace speaks for itself, and his extensive experience of developing cars, particularly in his years with Toyota, will be incredibly important for us as we tackle one of the most challenging seasons F1 has ever embarked upon.

“Alongside him is Marcus who will be racing in his debut F1 season in 2014, but as a driver who has prepared perfectly for the step up to F1 with his graduation through the ranks. He started his single-seat career by winning Formula BMW UK in 2007 and rose through the ranks to GP2 where, last year, he won in Germany, scored two poles, three fastest laps and five podiums. He’s physically and mentally prepared for what lies ahead, and he will have all the support we can give him across the team to help him fulfil his obvious potential in Formula One.”

Tuesday’s news means that all of the available seats on the 2014 grid have now been filled, leaving Caterham’s 2013 drivers, Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde, and test driver Heikki Kovalainen without race drives.

Earlier on Tuesday it was announced that Van der Garde had concluded a deal to become Sauber’s new test and reserve driver, whilst Caterham’s 2014 reserve drivers will be Dutchman Robin Frijns and American Alexander Rossi.

(source :f1.com)