Lotus and Grosjean close to completing 2015 deal

Lotus have revealed that they are near to reaching an agreement with Romain Grosjean that will see the Frenchman stay on as Pastor Maldonado’s team mate in 2015.

Grosjean, who has endured a frustrating 2014 campaign, finishing in the points on just two occasions, has spent his entire F1 career with the Enstone-based team, having made seven appearances for the then-Renault squad in 2009 before rejoining the team from the 2011 season onwards. 

“Romain is in pole position for (a 2015 seat) and honestly it’s a case of us finalising a few details,” confirmed deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi. “We expect to have an announcement very shortly.”

Regarding the timing of that announcement, Grosjean, who has scored all eight of Lotus’s world championship points in 2014, joked: “Maybe we think it’s fun to keep the media speculating! 

"Honestly, we’re very close to having something to announce but there’s no pressure on when we say something.”

Despite the fact that Lotus are poised to finish outside the top five in the constructors’ standings for the first time since 2009, Gastaldi is hopeful that the former world champions will enjoy a renaissance in 2015 thanks to a recently-announced switch from Renault to Mercedes power.

“That is the plan!” he said. “Obviously (switching to Mercedes) was something that was in the pipeline. Behind the scenes we realised it was time for a new direction and we are very happy we can finally confirm this publicly. 

“Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains have already made a positive impression and we believe that they will be a key ingredient for future success. 

"It has become obvious this year that they have the most competitive package on the engine side. Their strengths, allied to ours, will form a potent combination in 2015 and create a special E23 Hybrid package. The partnership also forms a key ingredient for the long-term future of Lotus F1 Team.”

(source: f1.com)

Fong, Nissany and Ocon complete Valencia test

Three up-and-coming drivers got the chance to experience F1 machinery in a two-day test in Valencia, Spain this week. Adderly Fong and Roy Nissany both sampled a two-year old Sauber, while Esteban Ocon was at the wheel of an identical-vintage Lotus.

Chinese driver Fong, 24, and Israeli Nissany, 19, got one day each in the Ferrari-powered Sauber C31 and both completed 99 laps of the 4.005-kilometre circuit.

“I am very happy that I had the opportunity to test the Sauber,” said Fong, who has competed in several single-seater championships in Asia and Europe, and this year is focusing on the Audi R8 LMS Cup, an Asia-based sprint race series. 

“I have achieved my objective to complete 300 km without making any mistakes and at a good speed. The car was fantastic to drive, it is a brilliant piece of machinery. With so much horsepower and high downforce, it is a difficult car to learn, but I was able to improve lap by lap. I really want to thank Sauber and Ferrai for providing me such a good package today. It was great being able to test the car at the track in Valencia, having started Formula Three testing here in 2009.”

Nissany, son of one-time Minardi tester Chanoch Nissany and currently competing in European F3, said of his F1 outing: “It was an amazing day. It was my first time driving a Formula One car, and it felt great. I was quite excited at the beginning, and I think I feel more experienced now.

“Going through the fast corners with this high amount of downforce and adapting my driving style to this car was not easy, but I managed to do everything well. I am very happy with today’s outcome, not just from my side, but also from the team’s side, as everyone works very professionally. I knew the track in Valencia, so I think that was a good advantage.”

Frenchman Ocon, meanwhile, earned his two-day session in Lotus’s E20 as reward for winning the FIA Formula Three Championship in his rookie season this year. The 18-year-old has been part of Lotus’s junior programme since 2010 and the F1 test formed part of his ongoing development with the team.

(source: f1.com)

Turbo Engines Return 2014 - How it All Started

I must repost this documentary because the previous one was erased from YouTube.

McLaren to bring in major updates before Abu Dhabi

McLaren will introduce a 'major upgrade' package before the end of 2014 in a bid to capitalise on their current resurgence and aid their preparations for next year's Formula One world championship.

The team introduced a similarly significant set of updates in Singapore and, after refinements in Japan and Russia, have moved up the competitive order, outscoring all but Mercedes and Red Bull over the last two Grands Prix.

While team principal Eric Boullier played down the significance of McLaren's revival in terms of their constructors' position, he said developments over the last three races will be critical to establishing a platform for success next year and beyond.

"We are not chasing championship position, we are chasing the final restructuring of the team; to be ready to build on the new structure, to be competitive sooner rather than later," Boullier said during a McLaren-Mercedes phone-in.

"The reason [for the upturn] is the major upgrade which we brought to Singapore. It is true we have another major upgrade coming before the end of the season. It is not designed to bring advantage for the double points [available in Abu Dhabi], it is more about building the foundations for the future. One hundred percent [of 2014 developments] are applicable to next year's car."

Asked whether overhauling Ferrari was a consideration for McLaren - the two teams are now separated by just 45 points - Boullier added: "It is more about bringing the momentum back to the team and getting some good results in the last three races.

"If the performance on our car is good and we can deliver some strong races like Russia we will see if we can take back another championship position - I would be delighted to. [But] I don't think we have a clear target this year other than rebuilding the team and getting ready to fight back as soon as possible."

McLaren's return of fourth and fifth places in Sochi was their best team result since the Australian season opener back in March, when Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button claimed second and third - which remain McLaren's only podiums of the 2014 campaign to date.

(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)

Discovery Channel: Formula One - The Limit

Pirelli alter Brazil tyre nomination

Pirelli have revised their tyre allocation for the forthcoming Grand Prix in Brazil following track resurfacing work at the Sao Paulo circuit.

Formula One racing’s official tyre suppliers had initially planned to bring their medium and hard compounds, but will now offer their soft and medium rubber after proposals for the move gained support from the F1 teams.

“We’ve always said that we would be open to any changes if they were required,” commented Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery.

“After further technical analysis of the impact of the revised circuit surface, together with a risk assessment suggesting a low probability of compound overheating due to extreme track temperatures, we have made this change with the unanimous agreement of all 11 teams.”

At a glance - tyre compounds for 2014:
Australia - soft, medium
Malaysia - medium, hard
Bahrain - soft, medium
China - soft, medium
Spain - medium, hard
Monaco - supersoft, soft
Canada - supersoft, soft
Austria - supersoft, soft
Great Britain - medium, hard
Germany - supersoft, soft
Hungary - soft, medium
Belgium - soft, medium
Italy - medium, hard
Singapore - supersoft, soft
Japan - medium, hard
Russia - soft, medium
USA - soft, medium
Brazil - soft, medium
Abu Dhabi - super soft, soft

(source: f1.com)