Tag Archives: f1

Stefan GP and Toyota split up – for now…

Stefan GP – the team that tried and failed to take US F1’s position on the grid – has had a set back to it’s plans to enter F1. It’s main point was that it had the Toyota car, offices and technical support but now that agreement that was based upon Stefan GP actually gaining an entry has come to an end and the Stefan GP outfit has nothing again.
It seems that this saga will not end – though it does mean that Zoran Stefanovic is determined and that usually gets you what you want in F1. Bernie also still seems behind the outfit saying that it’s not all done and dusted and that we may yet see the team on the grid this year – though they would have to buy US F1’s entry and jump over some pretty big FIA hurdles to pull that one off. If this [...]

How did the new teams do in the first race?

Bahrain played host to three brand new teams this year, Lotus, Virgin Racing and HRT Cosworth/Hispania Racing. After months of preparation it was their first taste of F1 proper with nothing to hide behind.
Lotus performed the best of the new teams, they had a seemingly problem free weekend with their cars both going on to almost finish the race – they were both classified as finishers though. They were off the pace and even got outqualified by one of the Virgin cars but the results happen on race day. Top marks for their effort though and as they were the last team to be granted their entry they have done a fantastic job, it shows what bringing in F1 experience can do.
Virgin Racing put on a reasonable show though neither car finished the race due to technical issues – one hydraulic related and one with gearshift problems. The car looked [...]

What can we expect form HRT Cosworth today?

HRT Cosworth or Hispania Racing have made it to the first GP, they’ve managed to get both cars out on track – just – and have got both drivers into the race. Bruno Senna had much more running that Karun Chandhok who just got two runs in qualifying and so did amazingly well to get as close to Senna as he did.
The team have has a few dramas over the weekend with the hydraulics issues that they’ve had with Chandhok’s car and the issue with the wheel nut on Senna’s car at the end of practice on Friday. These type of issues are to be expected from such a new team really and as Chandhok says is the problem when they are forced to conduct what is essentailly a shakedown in public.
So what can we expect from them in the race? I think that we may have to expect [...]

McLaren’s rear wing and the prospect of provisional results

The rear wing of the the McLaren – or rather the mechanism that can affect the effectiveness of the rear wing at high speed on the McLaren has been questioned by the other teams ahead of Sundays race. The stewards have passed it as legal and the FIA have backed them up on this, but with the propect that one of the other teams could appeal or lodge a protest then the race result may end up being provisional.
The issue centres around the device on the McLaren which allows the driver to change the airflow over the rear wing. Normally the device will be shut and won’t effect the airflow at all but at high speed the driver can open the flap which will then let the air pass through the chassis and exit over the rear wing which has the effect of stalling it, reducing drag and therefore increasing [...]