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I’m currently enjoying a few days at home in Monaco after what has been a very busy time since leaving Silverstone after the last race. Looking back briefly at the British Grand Prix, my result was not the best, but I came away from England feeling very encouraged by the performance of the 150º Italia over the course of the weekend. The race itself could have gone better, but as I explained before, from quite early on, around lap 20 or so, my car picked up a piece of debris in the floor, which affected my level of downforce and reduced my pace. That in turn meant I was using the tyres more than I should which impacted on the final result. However, in general our pace at Silverstone was much better than we had expected at this circuit and that is down to an excellent job from the team and those working back in the factory. So now I expect we can continue to move forward like this in the second half of the season. Okay, as from now the rules regarding the off-throttle diffuser go back to where they were, but the suggestion that our improved performance at the last race came from the rule change is wrong: when the engine mapping was changed, I would say we were losing maybe around four tenths of a second, depending on the track. But this lack of downforce should theoretically make it more difficult to get the tyres to work, especially the hard compound, but even in this configuration, Silverstone was the first time we were able to make the hard tyres work very well. As an example, just look at the first part of qualifying at Silverstone where I was third quickest, just a tenth of a second behind the fastest man, using the hard tyre. This means that our performance level was down to all the new components and updates we brought to Silverstone and was not connected to the rule change.
I have also spent a few days in Maranello, with a busy schedule both on the technical front and with promotional work. For two days, I worked in the simulator as well as attending meetings with the engineers and I also attended the annual meeting of the Ferrari dealers, coming from all the 58 countries where the Prancing Horse is present. On Friday, I drove our 3-seater F1 car at Fiorano for a promotional event: I have driven it before and it is definitely an entertaining experience, great fun. The best part is seeing the faces of the people as they prepare to get in the car. There is no other way to say it, they are simply very scared! I also had the opportunity to drive it with my engineers in the car, which actually is very good from a work point of view, so they can understand what it is we do in the cockpit, rather than just shouting at us to go faster all the time! I have to say, my race engineer Rob Smedley was very quiet, very nervous and shaking when he got out of the car J! I also took Pat Fry and Giuliano Salvi and then I also took my wife for a ride. She has been in it before and obviously enjoyed the experience although at the moment she has a rather stiff neck.
Looking ahead to next weekend’s German Grand Prix, it is an event I enjoy and I have been on the podium four times, although three of those have been at Hockenheim and then I have two additional podiums from coming second at the Nurburgring in the 2007 European GP, after leading Fernando in the McLaren for much of the race, and third again behind Michael and Fernando in 2007, my first ever podium in the career. It is an interesting circuit, with some unusual corners, uphill and downhill and slow turns in the modified first sector. So you need good downforce, but there are also some straights where straight line speed is important and based on what we saw from our aero package in Silverstone, I have high hopes that we can continue in the right direction in Germany. As for the championship, what can I say? As long there is a mathematical possibility there is always hope. I have said it so often, but it’s still true, that at Ferrari we never give up and we keep on fighting. The best strategy is simply to think about the season one race at a time, like we did at Silverstone. Now we need to keep the momentum this weekend and then immediately afterwards in Hungary, as that comes just one week later.Source: Ferrari.com
The FIA is confident there will be no aftermath following an end to the technical row that overshadowed the British Grand Prix
The introduction of a ban on off-throttle blown diffusers sparked a spat between Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and McLaren counterpart Martin Whitmarsh at Silverstone as they argued over its intricacies.
It resulted in two extraordinary meetings of the Technical Working Group (TWG) over the weekend in a bid to reach a resolution for the rest of the season.
Motor sport's world governing body has now officially confirmed a return to the measures applied for the European Grand Prix in Valencia just over a fortnight ago.
For that race a ban on engine mapping - where an engine is tweaked via an electronic control unit between qualifying and the race with regard to performance - came into force.
But given the difficulties in finding a fair and equitable solution in relation to the diffusers, teams can carry on as they were prior to the British GP.
The FIA has admitted "the matter was more complex than initially thought".
In a Q&A on their website, the FIA confirm representations from Renault Sport, who supply engines to three teams including Red Bull, initially stirred the pot.
It was only following the TWG meetings that consensus was reached, with the teams agreeing to run for the rest of the season as they did in Valencia.
The FIA added: "This was felt to be the most sensible solution to a very complicated matter as the possibility of finding an alternative solution, which would be fair to all engine manufacturers, was becoming increasingly unlikely."
Confirming the matter now been settled, the FIA said: "All cars will run under 'Valencia' conditions for the remainder of the season.
"We are optimistic there will be no protests over any engine mapping and exhaust tailpipe issues this season.
"It was also agreed no team would raise a protest against another on these matters for the rest of the season." Source: Planet-F1
Fernando Alonso calls the row between teams over blown diffusers "boring" and reveals he feels sorry for the fans who just want to see good on-track action.
The double world champion qualified third for the British Grand Prix and says he hopes to be able to push the Red Bulls all the way in the race.Source: SixtyBuckss
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel says the row over blown diffusers is "a shame", and believes weather and tyre choice will play a more important role during the British Grand Prix.
Vettel will start from second on the grid after what he calls a "tricky session" due to the variable weather conditions, and says he "doesn't care" what the weather is like during the race at Silverstone.
Source: SixtyBuckss
Mark Webber says forget about the constant rule changes, he just wants to race, and he's sure that's what the fans want as well
This weekend's British GP has been dogged by controversy as the FIA have opted to alter the rules. And not once, they've done it twice.
In the build up to the Silverstone race, the teams were informed that off-throttle blown diffusers would be banned.
However, they were given a bit of leeway and could open the throttle up to a maximum 10 to 20 percent.
Red Bull, together with Renault, approached the FIA on Friday and were granted concession whereby they could open the throttle 50 percent in order to ensure reliability.
But overnight that was withdrawn and the Red Bull team woke up Saturday morning to be informed that they would have to stick to the maximum 10 to 20 percent that all the teams were limited to.
And although team boss Christian Horner was quick to proclaim that his drivers would be "running at a disadvantage compared to other manufacturers", that was not the case in qualifying where Webber secured pole by 0.032s over Sebastian Vettel.
Asked about the rule change issues during the post-qualifying press conference, the Aussie made it clear that he thinks.
"It's nonsense. Nobody really understands it. We don't know what's going on," said the 34-year-old.
"It's very boring for the fans. I am sure only 0.1 percent of the fans understand what's going on.
"Let's get on with the racing and keep the rules as simple as we can.
"Seb and I have just to concentrate on the driving.
"It is not new for our team - adjustable ride height control, front wing and nothing new - every year we have a new thing to talk about.
"Let's hope everyone can find someone common ground.
Asked whether his pole position was a way for Red Bull to 'reply' to the new rules, Webber insisted the one had nothing to do with the other.
"No, it is not. We are not looking to reply to anything. What has to be reiterated is that our team has turned up very, very early and left very, very late. Every team works hard but this team works incredibly hard.
"We concentrate on that, what is happening in the last few months is not what we have done in the last few months, it is years of work to put ourselves in this situation.
"We have seen today that we are still going okay, but irrespective of lap times it is an interpretation of rules and principles.
"Whether we are on pole or 10th, the team will continue to have a stance on what is correct. It is not a comeback from what we had today."
Source: Planet-F1
Red Bull's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has revealed that the team expect to lose half a second per lap at Silverstone when the ban on off-throttle blown diffusers takes effect
Speculation has been rife regarding how the ban will impact the teams, with Red Bull thought to be in danger of suffering the greatest loss.
Marko admits that the ban will cost the team but they are well prepared to deal with the changes.
"We expect to lose approximately 0.5 seconds per lap without the blown diffuser," he said.
"However, we made preparations to equalise this in terms of set-up and aero measures. We are optimistic that we will keep our performance level."
The 68-year-old is understandably annoyed at the FIA's decision to implement the ban halfway through the season.
"We would have understood if this was implemented at the end of the season like many other technical developments recently," he said.
"But to do this halfway through the season is a bit strange and not quite understandable," the Austrian added. Source: Planet-F1
Ferrari will unveil yet another development of its blown diffuser layout on the streets of Singapore this weekend.
After encountering difficulties with the F10's latest developments at Spa recently, the Italian team finally got the layout working optimally at Monza, where Fernando Alonso won from pole position.
"We now have a package that should work on all types of circuits," the Spaniard is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.
"We know Red Bull will be very strong at the next two circuits, but we should now be more consistent than we were before.
"Consistency is the key to this title," said Alonso.
The next step, to be seen for the first time in Singapore this weekend, is a further integration of the diffuser and the gearbox and how the exhaust gases are directed through the rear bodywork.
"This race will be important but not decisive," team boss Stefano Domenicali told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"The championship looks to be open right until the end, and the new scoring system helps us," he added.
As for the new developments for Singapore, Domenicali is quoted by Tuttosport: "We need to avoid a repeat of what happened in Belgium, where our developments failed to give us what we expected because we weren't able to test them.
"It's impossible to predict what will happen because there are so many variables at play," added the Italian.
He confirmed that the F10's next developments are "aerodynamic" in nature, situated "at the bottom of the car". Source: Motorsport.com
McLaren-Mercedes' request to the FIA to examine the back of Red Bull Racing's RB6 ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend ultimately backfired, Christian Horner reveals...
Following an inquiry from F1 2010 title rival McLaren-Mercedes, Red Bull Racing was instructed by the FIA to alter part of its rear diffuser ahead of last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix – but the Milton Keynes-based squad's team principal Christian Horner has revealed the change made the car that is already the fastest in the field 'even better than before'.
According to German publication Auto Motor und Sport, McLaren engineering director Paddy Lowe alerted the sport's governing body to an element of the diffuser on the Adrian Newey-designed RB6 not in adherence with the regulations. The car has been the subject of considerable scrutiny by fellow teams of late due to its crushing superiority, particularly in qualifying – with six pole positions out of six thus far this season.
Having acquiesced with the FIA's demands, meanwhile, pole-sitter Mark Webber and team-mate Sebastian Vettel still went on to thoroughly dominate the race around the narrow, tortuous streets of the glamorous Principality – in the process securing RBR its second commanding one-two of the campaign.
“Obviously the backs of the cars are so sensitive now we try and make it as difficult for others to see as possible,” remarked the energy drinks-backed outfit's team principal Christian Horner. “We had to run a version without those [diffuser] wings, and found that it was even better than before.”
Source: Crash
