Alonso annoyed after media’s interest in new wing

"I do not think the readers are interested to get up in the morning and read about three or four points of downforce"

The interest in Ferrari’s 2012 front wing in Korea left Fernando Alonso annoyed.

"I think it’s to do with the team, not the journalists," La Gazzetta dello Sport quotes the Spaniard as saying in Korea, where his 150 Italia was fitted with the radical new wing.

Media reports analysed in detail the difference between the new and old wing and its performance in Korea relative to the regular specification driven by Alonso’s teammate Felipe Massa.

"As I’ve said before, in these last four races we need to learn a lot about 2012," Alonso said. "Gaining or losing a tenth is a very low priority at the end of this season compared to finding the direction for next year’s car.

"We are working with a specific goal that is not easy for you (reporters) to understand," he added.

"I do not think the readers are interested to get up in the morning and read about three or four points of downforce, certain diameters — I think they want to know who is fourth or fifth or whether you are working for the grand prix or the next year.

"The details seem very superficial to me."

On the radio towards the end of Sunday’s Korean grand prix, Alonso was heard to tell his team "I give up" — a call rarely heard from the double world champion.

Alonso insists his focus is on what will make the 2012 season better.

"I will come to work (in 2011) to gain experience for the things for next year," he is quoted by AS sports newspaper. "We can try some experimental parts and also (experiment with) how to deal with the weekends."

The 30-year-old is currently third in the drivers’ championship.

"If we can get one tenth (for the 2012 car) from the information and yet finish fifth in the championship, I would sign it now," insisted Alonso.

"No one expects us to come to India and have the pole and the win. Expect us to be fourth or fifth in qualifying and third, fourth or fifth in the race," he said.

Source: Nextgen

Vettel offered to pay for new Suzuka wing

Sebastian Vettel offered to pay for the delivery of a brand new front wing from Red Bull’s British factory to Japan last weekend.

The team travelled to Japan with only two versions of the new wing; one for Vettel and the other for his teammate Mark Webber’s sister car.

The German damaged his with a crash in Friday practice.

But because it was the driver’s mistake and not the team’s, boss Christian Horner never contemplated taking the wing from Webber despite the fact Vettel was on the cusp of wrapping up the world championship.

The replacement wing arrived at Suzuka just 20 minutes before qualifying.

Triple world champion and German-language pundit Niki Lauda revealed on Red Bull’s Servus TV channel this week that Vettel offered to pay for the long-haul transit, involving expensive private planes.

“It surprised me to know this and shows what kind of harmony they have now,” said the great Austrian.

“As a driver I would have never thought to pay for a flight. But he was the cause and responsible so he said he would assume the extra costs. This is part of what makes this team so successful.”

Lauda, the owner of an airline, estimated the cost of the wing’s private transit from Milton-Keynes to Suzuka at EUR 150,000.

Source: YallaF1

Mark Webber row rumbles on at Red Bull as Christian Horner denies favouritism claims

Christian Horner has denied that Red Bull, the Austrian energy drinks giant, has any say in how he runs his team, while repeating his claim that neither of his two drivers is favoured.

In the wake of incidents in Turkey in May, and again following Mark Webber’s controversial win at Silverstone on Sunday, there has been widespread speculation that Red Bull’s Austrian owner would prefer Sebastian Vettel, a 23-year-old German, to win the world title over an Australian 10 years his senior.

While Horner has repeatedly claimed that he gives his drivers equal opportunities, many in the paddock believe that certain decisions are being forced upon him from above.

Webber fanned those flames last weekend in spectacular fashion. Furious that a new part from his car was transferred to Vettel’s just prior to qualifying, he drove a brilliant race on Sunday before pointedly telling Horner over the team radio: “Not bad for a No 2 driver.”

The Australian later insisted that he would not have signed a recent contract extension had he known the team would treat him like they did at Silverstone, adding that he would sit down with Horner on Monday to discuss the issue.

Horner said those talks had not yet happened but confirmed they would take place early this week. And the Red Bull team principal repeated his claim that he made the wing decision for the right reasons, stressing that the team’s owner had nothing to do with it.

“There has never been any pressure from Red Bull to favour one driver over the other,” he said. “I didn’t have a conversation with Helmut [Marko, the Austrian company’s motorsport adviser] or anyone from Red Bull regarding the decision to give Sebastian the wing. It was purely a technical decision, which I discussed with Adrian [Newey].

“My one regret is that I didn’t have time to discuss the issue with Mark personally prior to qualifying as I’m sure that would have given him a more balanced understanding.”

Horner also played down allegations that Webber’s side of the garage had taunted Vettel’s following the race. “It’s ridiculous,” he said. “Our mechanics are completely for each other, irrelevant of the car crew. That’s why we have some of the fastest pit stops in Formula One.

“There is one team of mechanics for both drivers and all championship bonuses are based on team position rather than driver so there is no favouritism at all.”

Horner revealed that Webber and Vettel had been up on stage singing together at a post-race party he hosted at his home, adding that he was sure he and Webber would settle their differences soon.

“Mark and I have always enjoyed a very good and transparent relationship,” he said. “I’ve known him for over a decade and I’ve always supported him, as I do Sebastian.
“They were both up on stage at our post-race party on Sunday singing together with myself, Adrian [Newey] and one or two others.

“You have to remember, this was a great result for the team and it was a hugely emotional occasion. It was great that we all celebrated together with Mark’s family and Seb’s family there as well.”

Hamilton and Button revel in rivals’ dispute

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have declared themselves delighted at the simmering tensions within Red Bull’s camp, which they believe should play right into their hands.

Hamilton, who does not get on with Sebastian Vettel, said he was backing Mark Webber in the dispute: “If that was me, jeez,” Hamilton said of the decision to take a part from the Australian’s car and give it to the German. “It’s not nice but I’m very, very, very happy for Mark [that he won]. But it seems that we have more harmony in our team and that’s why we’re leading both championships.”

Button agreed that the conflict should help his team, adding that Webber’s suggestions of “smoke and mirrors” within McLaren prior to the British GP were wide of the mark.
“However much people take the mickey out of how well Lewis and I get on it works well with our team. The guys in the factory are not worrying about how we are with each other,” he said.

Source: The Daily Telegraph