Category: Red Bull Racing

Categories
Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

2014 Malaysian GP: Qualifying report

2014 Malaysian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton claimed his second pole position of the year during a rain affected qualifying at the Malaysian Grand Prix. In doing so the 2008 world champion has moved alongside Jim Clark and Alain Prost on 33 career pole positions.

Qualifying was delayed for close to an hour due to heavy rain and difficult conditions, with terrible visibility, endured throughout the three sessions after the lights finally went green. As you might expect a couple of red flags came about due to minor incidents which added to the overtime for the TV networks.

At the end of it all Lewis Hamilton’s time (1:59.431) was only just enough to hold out a surprised Sebastian Vettel (1:59.486). Nico Rosberg (2:00.050) and Fernando Alonso (2:00.175) complete the second row.

Alonso was lucky to progress to Q3 at all after Daniil Kvyat made a rookie error during Q2 and collided with him. Alonso appeared to suffer a broken steering arm, but his Ferrari mechanics were able to put things right during the red flag required to clear the track of debris and away he soon went.

Daniel Ricciardo (2:00.541) again kept his name at the upper end of the timesheets and perhaps he may have wished for more than P5.

“When it rains here, it definitely pours and the weather was our biggest challenge today,” said Daniel. “Finding space on the track can be tough and the visibility is so bad, the spray comes from hundreds of metres away, so just getting some clean road is something you really have to try and take care of. I was a bit off in Q3, so I’ve got to try and understand why, but nonetheless I think top five is not too bad, considering the conditions.”

Kimi Raikkonen (2:01.218) secured P6 meaning the first six includes two cars each from the three engine manufacturers.

Further rain is a possibility for the race and should that come to fruition it will be sure to provide an exciting and unpredictable grand prix.

The full starting grid can be seen after the break, along with the transcript from the post-quali press conference.

Continue reading “2014 Malaysian GP: Qualifying report”
Categories
Formula 1 Porsche Red Bull Racing

Porsche F1 rumours fire up again?

GT Porsche tweet

In its own words the @GTPorsche twitter account represents the “biggest independent print and digital Porsche magazine”. Yet, often what this account says has a track record of becoming official from Porsche shortly thereafter.

Our observations lead us to believe they either have impeccable outside sources or the ear of some influential people inside the walls at Porsche. So it is with some alarm we read this morning’s tweet suggesting a possible/probable Porsche return to Formula 1, which you can see above.

The link to Red Bull is interesting also, given the current struggles with Renault in the new V6 power unit era. You’d expect Renault to get on top of things eventually, but you can bet Red Bull has thought about different engine suppliers several times in the last couple of months.

The return of Porsche to Formula 1 has been rumoured several times in recent years and had thought to have been put to bed now that the Porsche LMP1 program is weeks away from its return to competition at the 6 Hours of Silverstone on 20 April.

Indeed, just a couple of weeks ago the topic was mentioned here on AUSmotive, when Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche research and development boss, spoke about the company’s discussions prior to announcing its return to tackle Le Mans. And that decision made almost three years ago!

Our understanding is Porsche has given its LMP1 program a minimum three-year commitment. Would Porsche really run concurrent LMP1 and F1 programs? Would Porsche really return to F1 at all?

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Red Bull explains defence for Australian GP appeal

2014 Australian Grand Prix

Christian Horner has revealed to Autosport the approach Red Bull Racing will take in its appeal to have Daniel Ricciardo’s disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix overturned. Ricciardo crossed the finish line in second place and he and the team have been stripped of the 18 world championship points earned on the day.

The team will argue its decision to ignore a technical directive to use the FIA-mandated fuel flow meter holds no regulatory value. Further, Red Bull will attempt to prove that at no stage during the race did Ricciardo’s car exceed the maximum fuel flow rate and therefore there are no grounds for the exclude Ricciardo from the final results.

“Technical directives are not of regulatory value,” Horner claims. “They are the opinion of the technical delegate—as was made clear in the Pirelli case, which clearly stated that opinions of Charlie are not regulatory.

“It is even stated on the bottom of the directives now, that these do not have a regulatory value.”

Horner goes on to explain that had the team followed the FIA’s directive there would have been a “significant impact on performance” with Daniel’s car. He claims Red Bull had no other option but to rely on its own data.

“So when you are faced with that dilemma of having a sensor that you believe to be erroneous, and a fuel rail that you believe to be entirely reliable, and you are racing for position with an engine already down on power compared to your opponents, what do you do?

“We are absolutely convinced that we abided completely by the technical regulations.”

The appeal will be held on 14 April. During that time the Malaysian and Bahrain Grands Prix will be held and Horner is in discussions with the FIA over what should be done if the same problems experienced in Melbourne reoccur in the next two races.

“Hopefully we will have a sensor that works,” Horner said. “But it is not a position that will be unique to Red Bull.”

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing Toro Rosso

Dietrich Mateschitz expresses limits with F1

Dietrich Mateschitz

Owner of the Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso F1 teams, Dietrich Mateschitz, says he has a clear limit as to what he can accept in the world of Formula 1. While headlines screaming Red Bull could quit F1 are a little sensationalist for now, the sport would be wise to pay attention when Mateschitz speaks.

Speaking to Austrian-based Kurier newspaper Mateschitz was asked under what circumstances he might end his participation with F1.

“The question is not so much whether it makes economic sense,” Mateschitz replied. “But the reasons would be to do with sportsmanship, political influence, and so on.

“In these issues there is a clear limit to what we can accept.”

In the near future—14 April to be exact—Red Bull will have its appeal into Daniel Ricciardo’s disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix heard by an independent FIA court. Of course, Mateschitz was asked about this too.

“The team has lodged a protest,” he said. “The fuel-flow sensor, which was given to the teams by the federation, gave divergent readings and it is inaccurate. We can prove the exact amount of fuel flow and this was always within the limits.”

Despite our own wish for Daniel’s podium result to be reinstated we’re not expecting that to happen.

Mateschitz also joined the chorus of those complaining about the lack of drama from the new V6 power units.

“You have to make F1 like it used to be—the top discipline of motorsports,” he said. “F1 is not there to set new records in fuel consumption, nor to make it possible to have a whispered conversation during a race.

“It is absurd to race a lap seconds slower than last year. GP2 partially provides more racing and fighting and almost equal lap times as F1 with a small fraction of the budget.”

[Source: BBC | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Multi 21: The movie

Multi 21 movie parody

Cast your mind back to the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix and the subsequent Multi 21 controversy between Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. Instead of filling yourself with rage, go and see the movie!

Yes, really. Okay, maybe not really. But there is a parody movie trailer ready for you after the break.

Continue reading “Multi 21: The movie”
Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Ricciardo appeal unlikely to succeed

Gill Sensors Fuel Flow Monitor

Despite Red Bull’s best efforts we think it will be unlikely that Daniel Ricciardo’s disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix for exceeding the permitted fuel flow rate will get overturned.

Extra impetus has been given to uphold the FIA’s original decision after the controlling body reconfirmed its confidence in the accuracy of the Fuel Flow Meters at the centre of the controversy.

An official statement issued yesterday by Gill Sensors, manufacturers of the homologated part, claims the FIA has, “provided Gill Sensors with positive feedback on the performance of the Fuel Flow Meter, confirming their confidence in the development and stating the meters meet the FIA’s accuracy specification.”

Red Bull Racing immediately announced its intention to appeal the FIA’s decision blaming a faulty FFM with the added claim that their own data shows the rate of fuel being injected into Daniel’s car was within FIA specification. A team statement reads:

Inconsistencies with the FIA fuel flow meter have been prevalent all weekend up and down the pit lane. The Team and Renault are confident the fuel supplied to the engine is in full compliance with the regulations.

Speaking to the media on Sunday night Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, added: “We could see a significant discrepancy with what the sensor was reading and what our fuel flow was stated as—that’s where there’s a difference of opinion.”

Further harming Red Bull’s chance of a successful appeal is this revelation from the stewards’ findings:

The FIA technical representative observed thought the telemetry during the race that the fuel flow was too high and contacted the team, giving them the opportunity to follow his previous instruction, and reduce the fuel flow such that it was within the limit, as measured by the homologated sensor – and thus gave the team the opportunity to be within compliance. The team chose not to make this correction.

The appeal will be heard by an independent FIA court at a date yet to be specified.

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

2014 Australian Grand Prix in pictures

2014 Australian Grand Prix

Here’s your first proper look at the 2014 Formula 1 cars in action. We’re lucky to get the first race in Australia and this is especially the case this season with such dramatic changes to the cars and their technology.

We’ve got over 100 photos for you to savour and, yes, we probably did get a bit carried away in the Red Bull photo archive. Although, interestingly for them, there aren’t many pics to choose from on race day showing the RB10 in full flight, so you’ve got lots of background material to admire.

Mercedes AMG has also come to the party with a better than usual selection of images as well. Which tends to be the case when one of its drivers wins a grand prix!

Continue reading “2014 Australian Grand Prix in pictures”
Categories
Formula 1 McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

2014 Australian GP: Post-race press conference

2014 Australian Grand Prix

While Daniel Ricciardo’s result has been taken away from him it’s hard to know for sure how much advantage, if any, he gained if his car was pumping in fuel faster than it should have been. In reality he crossed the line second and therefore much of what was said post-race still rings true.

For the first two years of his career Ricciardo had the luxury of learning his craft at a relatively young age while being shielded from the F1 spotlight by Mark Webber. Despite his disqualification there’s no way anyone can think Daniel is still in Mark’s shadow. He’s his own man, Australia’s own man and we like what we see!

Oh yeah, they also asked some questions of Nico and Kevin too.

Continue reading “2014 Australian GP: Post-race press conference”
Categories
Formula 1 McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

Nico Rosberg wins 2014 Australian GP

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG

As I write this belated race report take your mind back to a time where all fuel flow monitors were created equal…

Nico Rosberg cruised to a dominant victory in Melbourne to start what could be a dominant year for the Mercedes AMG team. And yet the headline story is the second place finish by Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo who became the first local to stand on the podium in his home race.

Also deserving of huge plaudits is Kevin Magnussen who earned his spot on the podium with a flaweless debut in his Mercedes-powered McLaren.

Jenson Button had to be content with fourth place and watching his junior teammate steal the limelight. You sense after the season Button and McLaren endured in 2013 both will be over the moon with these results.

Fernando Alonso went quietly about his business and finished fifth. On current form it will be a surprise to see Ferrari win a race in 2014, yet they will be there or thereabouts. They came close in 2009 of course, but can they again build a car commensurate with Alonso’s undoubted talent and guile?

On any other day Valtteri Bottas would be attracting plenty of attention. The young Finn, in only his second season, drove like a man possessed to grab sixth place. His inexperience was on show when he clipped the wall and broke a wheel—and luckily nothing else—but he was able to recover from that, and a five place grid penalty for a pre-race gearbox change, to earn himself some very handy championship points. Without his error he would have found himself fighting for position with two world champions. Not bad after starting from P15.

Elsewhere Daniil Kvyat was another debutant to do well, crossing the line in tenth place for Toro Rosso. He was unable to upset his teammate, though, and Jean-Eric Vergne finished one place ahead in a pleasing result for the junior Red Bull outift. Renault will also be pleased to see three of its cars in the top 10, given four failed to finish (three due to mechanical issues).

Kamui Kobayashi’s return to F1 with Caterham lasted one corner and he took the Williams of Felipe Massa into the gravel with him.

After the race the crowd went wild for Dan Ricciardo as he accepted his trophy for second place. It was a great moment for F1 and motorsport in Australia.

And now is the moment we have to remind you all that Ricciardo’s podium moment in the setting sun was taken away from him by the FIA late in the night after declaring his car had “exceeded consistently the maximum fuel flow of 100kg/h”.

Our Daniel was disqualified and all other drivers move up one position. Ricciardo and Red Bull have no world championship points.

Red Bull have said they will appeal the FIA’s decision and were it not for the fact that the FIA spoke to Red Bull during the race to warn them that Daniel’s car was in breach of the regulations and to fix the problem we might think they were half a chance to have Daniel’s P2 reinstated.

Red Bull will claim they were just doing what they needed to do to remain competetive in spite of (what they will say is) a dodgy fuel flow monitor and that they didn’t actually break any rules.

We don’t expect there will be any joy for Daniel and his team.

If nothing else we do know that the RB10 can go the full race distance and, more tellingly perhaps, that Daniel has the pace to mix it with the best, including the four-time world champ on the other side of the garage.

That gives us hope that someone may be able to challenge Mercedes at some stage during 2014.

Continue reading “Nico Rosberg wins 2014 Australian GP”
Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Well, that’s just crap!

Daniel Ricciardo

I drive all the way from Canberra to Melbourne and see Daniel light up the Albert Park crowd and track on the way to earning himself a front row start for the Australian Grand Prix.

On Sunday I watch the race at a pub with a great atmosphere which builds as Daniel holds off a fast charging rookie in Kevin Magnussen on his way to second place and the honour of being the first Aussie on the podium in Melbourne.

The crowd cheered loudly when Daniel crossed the line. It was a great moment and all was good with the world.

I cross the road from the pub to watch my football team play. They start well, really well. But end badly, really badly. They were rubbish. I’m in a bad mood.

While I’m driving home I remember how good Ricciardo was today. My mood improves a little.

I arrive at my mate’s place and he tells me the FIA is investigating Daniel for exceeding the fuel flow rate in his car during today’s race.

It’s late and I need to write a race report but the wind has been sucked out of my sails. Imagine how Daniel must be feeling.

And now it’s official. The FIA has excluded Ricciardo from the results of the 2014 Australian Grand Prix.

Shit happens. Red Bull couldn’t have possibly tried to cheat because the cars are monitored by the FIA. It’s a bit like speeding in pit lane; nobody deliberatly does it, but mistakes are made.

The happy story is now that Kevin Magnussen has finished second his maiden grand prix. And as good as that is for the sport it’s just not the same as remembering the feelings of goodwill I experienced trackside and in Melbourne this weekend as we cheered our Daniel onto success.

Or so we all thought.

I’m going to bed.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Continue reading “Well, that’s just crap!”
Categories
Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

2014 Australian GP: Qualifying report

2014 Australian Grand Prix

Well, what a great result the first qualifying session of Formula 1’s new world order delivered yesterday. Seeing our Daniel on the front row is the headline story here in Australia. The smiling West Australian deserves the accolades too, after he put in a masterful performance in all three quali sessions.

Lewis Hamilton’s experience and guile pipped Daniel for pole with the last lap of the session and closed the book on what would hve been an epic fairy tale debut for Ricciardo with Red Bull. It’s hard to deny Hamilton’s effort and he too attracted sentiment by equalling the pole position record of British great Nigel Mansell, with his 32nd P1 start.

It was no surprise to see Nico Rosberg round out the top three, although you get the feeling he may be a little surprised to miss out on the front row to a Red Bull, following the latter’s dreadful pre-season form.

Indeed, qualifying delivered big stories right down the grid, thanks in part to wet and windy conditions in Q2 and Q3. Almost overshadowing Ricciardo’s P2 result is the outstanding debut from McLaren’s rookie Kevin Magnussen who qualified on the second row for his maiden grand prix.

Also overdelivering on expectations were thw Toro Rosso drivers, Jean-Eric Vergne qualified in sixth, while teammate Daniil Kvyat will start his first race from P8. We suspect Renault, too, will be happy to see three of its cars in the top 10.

There were huge stories in who missed out on a chance at pole position, as well. Three world champions failed to make it into Q3 and a huge roar went out around the track when Sebastian Vettel missed the final cut. The world champ will start from P12, behind his championship alumni in Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen.

The woes of Lotus continue with Pastor Maldonado failing to record a lap time. As a former grand prix winner you suspect the stewards will use their discretion to give him the green light to race.

Grid penalties have sent Valtteri Bottas and Esteban Gutierrez further down the field than they would like and you can see the full starting grid after the break, along with the full press conference transcript.

We liked this question asked to Daniel Ricciardo:

(Mat Coch – pitpass.com) Daniel, a question close to every Australian’s heart: what are you like at starts?
DR: Let’s see how we go tomorrow! Bit up and down last year. I guess everyone watched the races. I think they were on the up so let’s see how we go tomorrow. I think it’s going to be interesting for everyone now, with the V6 turbos. I think it’s also a bit of a different animal off the line. Hopefully we get off well.

[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Continue reading “2014 Australian GP: Qualifying report”
Categories
Caterham Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Toro Rosso

Quick reference guide to the 2014 F1 season

We’re just a couple of sleeps away from the start to the most unpredictable Formula 1 season in recent memory. Is anyone else excited?!

Judging by pre-season testing form we’ll be lucky if half of the 22 cars entered in Melbourne finish the race. Remember, too, there’s just five complete power units available per driver all year, so we suspect reliability will have a big say in the outcome of both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.

After the break you’ll find a full calendar with start Australian Eastern start times, a list of all the drivers and their new permanent numbers along with links to all of the new cars for 2104.

Right now it looks like the Mercedes power unit is the weapon of choice, with Renault proving the least reliable. Let’s see what happens between now and 23 November when double points are up for grabs at the final race in Abu Dhabi.

For easy reference be sure to save this link: ausm.tv/f1guide2014

Continue reading “Quick reference guide to the 2014 F1 season”