Category: Ferrari

Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus

Raikkonen getting closer to Ferrari return

Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen has revealed he expects to confirm his future employment plans in the next few days. And word from the paddock at Monza is he will be moving to Ferrari in 2014.

His current boss, Eric Boullier, says it’s all up to Kimi. “The decision rests more with him because he has an offer from us,” he said. “We know he has a couple of things we have to supply and deal with to close the discussion.

“But now Kimi is in a position where he is being chased by most of the paddock and he will decide. He knows what he gets with us, but he doesn’t know what he will get if he changes teams.”

Over at the Red team they’re playing their cards close to their chest. “This is something we want to take at the appropriate time, to make sure that we take the best decision for our team,” Domenicali said when responding to questions about Ferrari’s 2014 driver line up.

“I think the fact that we have not decided yet means we have to put all the elements on the table. We will announce and say something on that as soon as we have finalised it. It is not an easy decision for us.”

What Fernando Alonso will make of having Kimi as a teammate is anyone’s guess. We can’t see the 33-year-old Finn being as compliant as Felipe Massa, or even Nico Hulkenberg, who has also been linked with the Scuderia. Looks like we won’t have long to find out.

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Lotus F1 Team/LAT Photographic]

 

Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

2013 Italian GP: Post-race press conference

2013 Italian Grand Prix

Last night’s podium interviews were a bit of a farce. Jean Alesi, so admirable as a gritty underdog racer during his time in Formula 1, was little more than a Ferrari mouthpiece after Sebastian Vettel’s win at Monza. But it’s Italy and the tifosi needs to be catered to, so fair enough perhaps.

For Mark Webber, the weekend delivered his best qualifying result and best finishing result in 12 visits to the temple of speed. And while he says he likes Monza he’s done little to placate the rabid fans, telling Channel Ten in an interview he’d rather have a Porsche in the driveway than a Ferrari. He was also outspoken in his defence of teammate Sebastian Vettel who was roundly booed for not being a Ferrari driver.

“[I’m] very happy to be on the podium here at Monza,” said Mark. “It’s one of the most famous ones in the world, up there with Monte Carlo and a few other signature events but yeah, brilliant to experience that, even though the atmosphere I was not completely a fan of, to be honest. Sebastian won the race and the atmosphere is not completely correct but anyway… that’s their choice.”

Daniel Ricciardo, in his first race after being confirmed as Webber’s replacement at Red Bull next year still has his mind on the job of achieving better results for his current employer Toro Rosso.

“In recent races where we have managed to qualify in the top ten, we didn’t have the pace to stay there in the race, but today we did,” said Daniel. “I think I got the most out of the car, managing to keep the guys behind me and the low downforce set-up certainly helped us down the straights. We must keep pushing hard on the car development for the next few races, because hopefully, a top five finish is not too far away.”

The full transcript of the post-race press conference featuring the first three drivers can be read after the break.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Continue reading “2013 Italian GP: Post-race press conference”
Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Italian GP

Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Italian GP

Sebastian Vettel took an easy win for Red Bull in tonight’s Italian Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso couldn’t bring a home win for Ferrari but did the next best thing by finishing second. While Mark Webber departs his final European-based F1 race from the third step on the podium.

Both Red Bull drivers got off the front row of the grid well and for a moment it looked like Webber might challenge Vettel for the lead into the first corner. But while the Red Bulls ahead scrapped the Ferraris pounced and Felipe Massa took third place while Alonso was on Webber’s tail.

Alonso eventually got past Webber with a typically courageous move and Massa was soon brushed aside. The race then settled into an otherwise lifeless rhythm.

Webber got past Massa in the pit stop sequence and with the preferred strategy being a one stopper that was pretty much it as far as seeing any excitement at the head of the field.

There were some concerns from the Red Bull pit wall with both drivers asked to short shift to look after their gearboxes and the field did close up towards the end, but there were no serious threats to Vettel or the two men behind him.

Felipe Massa held on to fourth place and Nico Hulkenberg and Sauber will be overjoyed with his fifth place. Nico Rosberg salvaged some pride for Mercedes AMG in sixth and Daniel Ricciardo was seventh and the sole Toro Rosso finisher after Jean-Eric Vergne suffered engine problems.

So, another easy win for Vettel. He joins Alonso on 32 grand prix wins and looks to be on an unstoppable charge to his fourth world championship.

Continue reading “Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Italian GP”
Categories
Ferrari Video

Australia, it’s time to vote: F40 or F50?

Ferrari F40 v Ferrari F50

On a day where our Australian readers are heading to the polls to kick out one dimwit for another, it’s our duty to brighten this otherwise most depressing of days. Here’s a choice you won’t dread making and when your vote has been cast you won’t regret it for the next three years, regardless of what you choose.

In truth, of course, we have Chris Harris to thank.

Firstly, his reputation presented him with an opportunity to drive two of Ferrari’s best ever cars, the insanely epic F40 and the improving with age F50.

Secondly, because when he does drive these two icons you are left in no doubt as to how much fun he is having. I’d like to be jealous, but I know I wouldn’t be able to do the justice to this comparison that he has done. Normally, Harris’ strength as a reviewer is to explain the detail about what he is experiencing. Here, though, it’s just kid in a candy store stuff and it is sensational.

He does take the time to delve into the past a little, and we’re ever thankful for that. So, without further ado, here’s Chris’ intro before you watch 20 of the most entertaining minutes of car video you could ever wish to see:

Here goes. Two of the greatest Ferraris thrashed as intended. This was one of the best days of my life.

Continue reading “Australia, it’s time to vote: F40 or F50?”
Categories
Ferrari Formula 1

Is Fernando trolling Daniel?

2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Amid the speculation that Daniel Ricciardo will be driving a widebody RB10 for Red Bull Racing next year comes this obscure tweet from Fernando Alonso:

We wonder, is he trolling? His Ferrari contract ties him to Maranello until the end of the 2016 season, although we note contracts can be broken if both parties agree.

So, could Fernando really be heading to Red Bull or is he just announcing he’s got a new shampoo sponsor, or something?

[Pic: Ferrari]

UPDATE: Turns out Alonso has bought the licence of the failed pro cycling team Euskaltel. [Source | Thanks to Ryan for the tip]

Categories
Caterham F1 in pictures Ferrari Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Toro Rosso

2013 Belgian Grand Prix in pictures

2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Here’s your lot, recapturing Vettel’s dominance, from the scenic Ardennes mountains. It’s a majestic circuit in a beautiful location. Everyone loves Spa-Francorchamps!

We loved Mark Webber’s scenic bike ride and we also loved the many views of Eau Rouge. It’s easy to dismiss the corner in these times when an F1 car can just nail it flat down the hill and over the blind crest of Radillon.

You probably need to see it with your own eyes to appreciate just how steep that climb is. How fearsome it would be, flat out in an F1 car, heading into the unknown searching for the relative safety of the Kemmel Straight. We can only imagine the feeling one’s body would experience with the fluctuation of G forces and messages being fired into your brain from your watering eyes.

Just amazing.

Knowing what we know now about the Greenpeace protest, it’s also interesting to see the evidence of the signs being installed as the cars were lining up on the grid to start the race.

Continue reading “2013 Belgian Grand Prix in pictures”
Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari 458 Speciale video teaser

Ferrari 458 Speciale

After last week’s announcement regarding the Ferrari 458 Speciale we’re very much looking forward to learning more about this car. Ferrari has released a brief video teaser, bringing us very close to the finer details of car and its 445kW 4.5 litre V8. We want to hear it though!

Continue reading “Ferrari 458 Speciale video teaser”
Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

2013 Belgian GP: Post-race press conference

2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel explains the tale of Belgian Grand Prix victory lay in a good opening lap. “It helped the first lap to have the tow off Lewis through Eau Rouge and then I was flying,” he said. “Once I passed him we had incredible pace and really could control the race until the end.”

Finishing in fifth place wasn’t part of Mark Webber’s plans in his final F1 appearance at Spa. “The two practice starts before the race weren’t great and so we were a bit worried about the clutch going to the start, which put us on to the back foot,” Mark said. “We tried our best, but lost a couple of rows off the line which is not good. We then had to try and clear people on the track, which was difficult, as we had set up the top gear to race in clean air, rather than to pass. The bad start put us out of position and it snowballs from there, as you use up the tyres trying to getting to back into position.”

Meanwhile Daniel Ricciardo was happy to finish in the points after starting from P19. “It was nice to get that point! We ran a long first stint on the Hards and I think that helped us build a good base to have a strong pace in the final stints on the Medium,” Daniel explained. “I felt much more comfortable on the Option tyre and that’s when my race really started. With the last set of tyres I was knocking out maybe ten or so qualifying laps and managed to pick off some cars in front to bring home that crucial point.”

The full transcript of the post-race press conference featuring the first three drivers can be read after the break.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Continue reading “2013 Belgian GP: Post-race press conference”
Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Belgian GP

Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel cruised to an easy victory at the 2013 Belgian Grand Prix. The Red Bull ace had to work hard on the first lap to overtake pole sitter Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes AMG) but once that was done he remained unchallenged.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) was the big improver the head of the field, finishing second after starting from P9. Lewis Hamilton had to content himself with P3.

Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG) finished where he started in P4, while Mark Webber (Red Bull) dropped two places to finish fifth. Although, there was word just before the race began that Webber had clutch issues which may explain his slow getaway off the line and why he dropped three places after the first lap.

Toro Rosso will be pleased that their drivers made good ground after their qualifying woes. Starting from P19 Daniel Ricciardo managed to fight his way to P10 to claim a championship point, while Jean-Eric Vergne improved from P18 to P12.

Aside from a bit of a kerfuffle with Pastor Maldonado (Williams) and the two Force India drivers which sent Paul di Resta in for an early shower not much else happened.

Tonight’s win is Vettel’s 31st career victory which places him equal fifth on the all-time tally alongside Nigel Mansell. What odds he’ll join Fernando Alonso on 32 wins at Monza in a couple of weeks?

Continue reading “Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Belgian GP”
Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 Lancia Maserati Mercedes-Benz

VIDEO: 1955 Belgian Grand Prix

1955 Belgian Grand Prix

Shell is celebrating its associtation with the 2013 Belgian Grand Prix by transporting us back in time to the 1955 race. They do this by making available a 30 minute documentary of the race and we suggest you find the time to watch before tonight’s instalment if you can.

It’s fair to say a lot has changed in Formula 1 in the last 58 years, as the image above shows. We’re sure you’ll recognise it but in case you don’t the photo is taken at the old pit complex, on the downhill run after La Source and you can see Eau Rouge and Radillion in the background.

Yes, that is a dog running across the track. No, there is no barrier between the track and pit lane. And, yes, it is raining at Spa! Although, that photo was taken during qualifying and the race was run in brilliant sunshine.

The race was completed on the old 14km Spa-Francorchamps layout and only Blanchimont, La Source and Eau Rouge/Radillion remain from the original layout. You can compare the old and current circuits HERE.

All that’s left to do now is sit back, relax and enjoy finding out how Juan Manuel Fangio went about claiming his fifteenth F1 victory.

[Thanks to Wes for the tip]

Continue reading “VIDEO: 1955 Belgian Grand Prix”
Categories
Ferrari Lamborghini McLaren Pagani Porsche Video

VIDEO: Evo’s highway to heaven

Evo's highway to heaven

Henry Catchpole from Evo takes us into a motoring fantasy land with this video:

This test brings together some of the greatest analogue super cars—the ones that make you work hard as a driver, but are hugely rewarding – where we discover what they are all about, and why we love them. The McLaren F1 goes up against the Ferrari F40 and F50, Porsche Carrera GT, Noble M600, Pagani Zonda F and Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV.

There’s nothing further we can add, except to ask. Can you imagine how special, how wonderful and how life changing it would have been to experience those seven cars back to back.

[via motorcentral]

Continue reading “VIDEO: Evo’s highway to heaven”
Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari 458 Speciale revealed

Ferrari 458 Speciale

Ferrari has been mucking around with its already immensely capable 458 Italia and come up with this, the 458 Speciale. The car will make its public debut in Frankfurt next month.

There are a few things that make the Speicale special, but let’s start with the engine. Ferrari has managed to fiddle with the 4.5 litre V8 and found an extra 20kW over the Italia, for a new peak figure of 445kW (605cv).

Ferrari reckons the 458 Speciale will knock off 100km/h in 3.0 seconds, 200km/h in 9.1 seconds and can lap its Fiorano test track in 1:23.5. Mighty impressive really.

As you can see the body of the car has been massaged as well. It looks even more purposeful and aggressive than the Italia and Ferrari says the active aero package on the Speciale will be a feature of all new Ferraris.

The part we like the most, though, is the SSC acronym. It stands for Side Slip angle Control system. And in Ferrari’s own words SSC, which employs the car’s F1-Trac and E-Diff systems, “makes it easier to achieve car control on the limit, thereby greatly improving driving emotions.”

And who doesn’t love having their driving emotions improved!

Continue reading “Ferrari 458 Speciale revealed”