'No King Kimi at Lotus'

Eric Boullier insists Lotus is not Kimi Raikkonen's team despite conceding there are times they have to adjust to the Finn

Last season, Raikkonen emerged as Lotus' leading driver as the Finn bagged the victory in the Abu Dhabi GP as well as third place in the Drivers' Championship.

But despite predictions that the 33-year-old will play a pivotal role in this year's Championship, Boullier insists Lotus is not a one-man team.

"No, because I don't want to have a spoiled character who is probably leading the team in the wrong direction," was his response when asked by the official F1 website whether it was a case of 'King Kimi' at Lotus.

"We are not servicing his moods. We are just making sure that he can be himself. This is a big difference."

The team boss, though, admits there have been times it has been better for the Lotus outfit to adjust to the Finn rather than the other way around.

"On top of being Kimi - the character that we know - he did cleverly build his system. It takes some time until he gets up to speed, but he is delivering because he knows that probably his strongest asset is race craft.

"And little by little over the course of the year he adjusted all the parameters to make himself fast, strong and in a position to deliver - the Kimi we like!

"He might have his moments sometimes, but it is up to us to adjust what we want to achieve to his style rather than the reverse. I probably prefer to switch the team to the style of Kimi."

As for Raikkonen's team-mate, Romain Grosjean, Boullier says one of the goals this season is to "transform Romain's enthusiasm into results. If we succeed that would mean a lot of points at the end of the year.

"You do everything you can. From building his environment, protecting him, supporting him - doing everything we can to make him feel good.

"But in the end it is up to him - only him - to build up and grow.

"We have to be patient, but not for three years, not for ten years - it has to be now. I think he has some of the best speed over one lap, now he has to learn to do the rest. Then I predict that he will be one of the best drivers."

Source: Planet-F1

Räikkönen leaves Jerez on top

Kimi Raikkonen set the pace on the final day at Jerez during which a disintegrating kerb caused a midday stoppage

Friday's running began in a fiery fashion as, after just two laps in the new Ferrari F138, Pedro de la Rosa had to leap from the car after it caught fire.

The marshals were quickly on the scene and put out the flames which were reportedly caused by a gearbox malfunction.

With the track again green, Sebastian Vettel was the first to slide under the 1:19 barrier before Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez topped his time.

Vettel, though, returned to the front shortly after on a soft tyre run and was leading the way with a 1:18.565 when a hole in a kerb brought proceedings to a halt.

The red flags were out for almost a full hour as track worked sought different way to repair the damage to the kerb at Turn 9 before finally bringing out the cement.

With the action back underway the drivers ventured and were soon joined by de la Rosa in his repaired Ferrari.

Force India hopeful Jules Bianchi, who has yet to learn whether or not he'll race for the team this season, was the first to lower the benchmark time as he posted a 1:18.175.

Bianchi's time, though, was edged by Kimi Raikkonen when - with an hour to go - the Lotus driver went 0.027s quicker.

Although not quicker than the week's best of 1:17.879, which was set by Felipe Massa on Thursday, Raikkonen's time proved to the second quickest of the four-day test.

Vettel finished in third place, 0.417s down, while Sauber rookie Gutierrez was fourth ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne who put in a very late charge to move up the order.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton had a much better day in the W04 as he amassed 145 laps with a best time of 1:18.905.

His McLaren replacement Sergio Perez was seventh quickest, finishing ahead of Valtteri Bottas, who was the only driver in an old 2012 car.

Times
01. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus 1m18.148 82 laps
02. Jules Bianchi Force India 1m18.175 + 0.027 56 laps
03. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1m18.565 + 0.417 96 laps
04. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber 1m18.669 + 0.521 142 laps
05. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 1m18.760 + 0.612 92 laps
06. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m18.905 + 0.757 145 laps
07. Sergio Perez McLaren 1m18.944 + 0.796 97 laps
08. Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m19.851 + 1.703 91 laps
09. Pedro de la Rosa Ferrari 1m20.316 + 2.168 50 laps
10. Charles Pic Caterham 1m21.105 + 2.957 109 laps
11. Luiz Razia Marussia 1m21.226 + 3.078 81 laps
12. Paul di Resta Force India 1m23.435 + 5.287 49 laps

Source: Planet-F1

Massa tops the charts on Day Three

Felipe Massa posted the fastest time of the week at Jerez on Thursday, half a second up on the previous best

As the sun once again shone down on the Spanish circuit on Thursday morning, the third day of the pre-season action got underway.

Massa moved to the top of the timesheets during the morning's session when the Ferrari driver posted a 1:17.879 during a short run on the soft tyres.

The Brazilian, who is hoping to launch a title bid of his own this season, followed that up a little while later with another lap that was only marginally slower on a similar short run.

Nico Rosberg finished second quickest on the day, 0.887s adrift of Massa, demonstrating for the first time what the Mercedes W04 is capable of if the car runs smoothly. Rosberg amassed a very busy 148 laps.

Reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel also hit the 100-lap mark as the Red Bull racer, driving the RB9 for the first time, was third quickest, a further 0.3s down.

Kimi Raikkonen, another driver making his pre-season debut, was fourth quickest in his Lotus E21. However, the Finn covered just 40 laps as a large part of the morning was spent ensuring he is comfortable in his new car.

Jean-Eric Vergne was fifth for Toro Rosso, finishing ahead of Force India's James Rossiter. The Brit test driver had a few issues during his morning stint when he hit one his mechanics as he missed his braking point into the pits.

"I hold my hands up, that was totally my fault," he said. "We were doing some aero runs and everything was cold, the brakes were too cold, the tyres were too cold.

"Thank God Marcus is okay and he's only got a few bruises. I'm sure I'll be buying him many beers and he won't be forgetting it soon!"

Another driver to run into problems was Jenson Button who brought testing to its conclusion five minutes early on Thursday when he broke down out on track.

Esteban Gutierrez made his Sauber debut with the Mexican racer setting the eighth fastest time as he completed 110 laps.

Times
01. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m17.879s 85 laps
02. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m18.766s +0.887 148 laps
03. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1m19.052s +1.173 102 laps
04. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus 1m19.200s +1.321 40 laps
05. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 1m19.247s +1.368 85 laps
06. James Rossiter Force India 1m19.303s +1.424 42 laps
07. Jenson Button McLaren 1m19.603s +1.724 83 laps
08. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber 1m19.934s +2.055 110 laps
09. Max Chilton Marussia 1m21.269s +3.390 78 laps
10. Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m21.575s +3.696 86 laps
11. Charles Pic Caterham 1m22.352s +4.473 57 laps
12. Paul di Resta Force India 1m23.729s +5.850 7 laps

Source: Planet-F1

Räikkönen reveals his Lotus-option

Kimi Räikkönen confirmed in MTV3:s interview in Singapore, that he and Lotus have an option when it comes to the next season

However the option hasn't yet been used and that's why Räikkönen doesn't want to talk about next season.

- The team and I have an option. Before they are signed you never know what is going to happen. We have seen earlier in F1, sadly, that even though you have a contract it doesn't mean that you would drive somewhere, Räikkönen told to MTV3 referring to how Ferrari kicked him out despite his contract.

According to information MTV3 has, Räikkönen's and Lotus-team's options expire at the end of September. According to inside sources the relationship is good on both sides and it's probable that Räikkönen continues in Lotus.

- I don't have any reason to do anything else, Räikkönen assures about his continuance in F1.

Räikkönen emphasizes that the information concerning him switching teams, spread by the media, are not coming from himself.

- After every race they seem to know terribly well where everyone is going to drive. According to them things change every second day, Räikkönen said about the rumour mill on the paddock.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

Button moving to Ferrari for 2013 season?

The reason Jenson Button’s 2012 McLaren contract has not yet been announced is “simple”, according to well connected veteran Formula 1 correspondent Livio Oricchio.

At Monza recently, the paddock openly wondered why October is nearing without the British team having announced already that it is taking up the option on the highly-regarded driver’s existing deal.

Asked by the BBC if the delay over 2012 is because Button, 31, is pushing for fewer corporate appearance days, team boss Martin Whitmarsh answered: “It’s not all about that.”

Brazilian journalist Oricchio, writing in the Jornal da Tarde daily on Monday, said Button simply wants McLaren to confirm him for 2012 so that he is available on the market for the season after.

“The answer is simple: Button is interested in Ferrari. And Ferrari is interested in him,” wrote Oricchio.

Indeed, during the course of 2012, Ferrari will consider whether to extend Felipe Massa’s contract or seek a new teammate for clear number one Fernando Alonso.

“Button has the right profile of a Ferrari driver,” Oricchio explained. “Fast, capable of living with Fernando Alonso and regularly among the fastest ones. He also has Alonso’s backing.”

That would explain McLaren’s eagerness to tie up Button beyond 2012, even though the 31-year-old insists he would be happy to retire having never raced a Ferrari.

“When I was growing up I was excited about the three big teams; Williams, McLaren and Ferrari,” said Button.

“It doesn’t mean you need to drive for Ferrari to fulfil your childhood dreams because as you grow up things change. I’m happy and if I can win a championship here I’d be even happier.”

Said Whitmarsh: “We’re just talking about it. I think the right thing is that we discuss it quietly.

“I’m sure we’re going to find a way to work together for many years to come, that’s certainly my wish and I hope it’s Jenson’s.”

Source: YallaF1

Vettel 'against all the four-cylinder advocacy'

In a dream world Sebastian Vettel would like to see a return of V12 engines to Formula One rather than the introduction of four-cylinder engines planned for 2013.

Answering theoretical questions on the official Formula One website, Vettel also said that he would pick Jochen Rindt as his team-mate if he could drive against anyone in the history of the sport.

When asked which of the current F1 regulations he would like to change, he responded: "I would put a V12 engine in the car - [I'm] against all the four-cylinder advocacy. I would take KERS off the car and put a V12 into the car. That would be 'greener' than what we have now!"

He also said he would like to see more overtaking in F1, but admitted he was unsure if the Drag Reduction System (DRS) was the correct way forward.

Asked what innovations he would like to see for the future, the world champion said: "Nothing really new - just making it possible to overtake. That would be fantastic for the drivers and obviously help the show. Everybody knows that it is almost impossible in Formula One to overtake so if you manage to do it you know that you've achieved something.

"Overtaking is something that separates the men from the boys. On the other hand I think that overtaking should never be artificial. And that is partly what I feel we are facing with this moveable rear wing and I am just hoping that it is not becoming too artificial. Obviously it is really hard to find a mode that allows the fastest man to find his way through.

" And if he could drive any car from F1's history, he said it would be the 1990 Ayrton Senna/Gerhard Berger McLaren. "I think the McLaren from 1990. The MP4-5."

Source: ESPNF1

Rome to be on 20-race calendar in 2013 - Ecclestone

The F1 calendar will for the first time feature a Grand Prix in Rome and nineteen other races in 2013, Bernie Ecclestone has announced.

It has long been the ambition of the sport's chief executive to extend the annual schedule to 20 races, while it was already known that the Briton had approved a future street race in the Italian capital.

"Rome will come onto the calendar in 2013. We will have 20 races and the teams will be happy with it," the 79-year-old is quoted as saying by the German-language Speedweek.

Previously, it had been expected that the inauguration of a race in Rome would not be to the detriment of Monza's historic Italian Grand Prix.

But Letizia Moratti, mayor of the nearby Milan, is now worried that Monza is set to lose its race at the famous Autodromo Nazionale.

"I think competition between cities is right, but it is equally correct to respect their traditions," she is quoted as saying by the Ansa news agency.

Source: Motorsport