Formula1 Journal

Who Was Value For Money In 2010? - By Paul_Murtagh

 

Back in August, the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, in association with Business Book GP, released the driver salaries for the 2010 season. With the season now finished, we can now work out exactly who was value for money, and who cost more than they were worth. The costs were:

 

 

DRIVER	SALARY	POINTS	COST PER POINT	Change From 2009
Fernando Alonso	€ 30,000,000.00	252	€ 119,047.62	+1 place
Rubens Barrichello	€ 5,500,000.00	47	€ 117,021.28	+14 places
Michael Schumacher	€ 8,000,000.00	72	€ 111,111.11	N/A
Felipe Massa	€ 14,000,000.00	144	€ 97,222.22	+4 places
Pedro De La Rosa	€ 500,000.00	6	€ 83,333.33	N/A
Jaime Alguersuari	€ 400,000.00	5	€ 80,000.00	N/A
Lewis Hamilton	€ 16,000,000.00	240	€ 66,666.67	-4 places
Nico Rosberg	€ 8,000,000.00	142	€ 56,338.03	+3 places
Robert Kubica	€ 7,500,000.00	136	€ 55,147.06	+/- 0 places
Sebastien Buemi	€ 400,000.00	8	€ 50,000.00	+/- 0 places
Jenson Button	€ 9,000,000.00	214	€ 42,056.07	-5 places
Nico Hulkenberg	€ 700,000.00	22	€ 31,818.18	N/A
Mark Webber	€ 4,200,000.00	242	€ 17,355.37	-10 places
Kamui Kobayashi	€ 500,000.00	32	€ 15,625.00	N/A
Vitaly Petrov	€ 400,000.00	27	€ 14,814.81	N/A
Vitantonio Liuzzi	€ 200,000.00	21	€ 9,523.81	N/A
Sebastien Vettel	€ 2,000,000.00	256	€ 7,812.50	-13 places
Adrian Sutil	€ 200,000.00	47	€ 4,255.32	N/A
Nick Heidfeld	€ 0.00	6	€ 0.00	-4 places

 

McLaren Kers - by Flood1

Having read the article about the Honda Kers set-up, I wanted to see some more info from other teams. I found this video of the McLaren hardware:  

Honda F1 KERS Motor

Editor's Note: This is a reprint of an article found here:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/11/hondas-f1-kers-motor-60-kw-21000-rpm-7-kg.html

During the EVS 25 electric vehicle expo in Shanghai earlier this months, Honda engineers presented a glimpse into the development of an advanced high-performance electric motor that Honda had designed as part of a KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) intended for its 2009 Formula One race car.

 

KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) regenerative braking systems are limited to storing up to 400 kilojoules of energy per lap, which can then be released at up to 60 kW (80 hp) for up to 6.67 seconds as part of a “push-to-pass” strategy. Depending on track design, this can increase vehicle acceleration by up to 15 kilometers per hour, gaining up to 20 meters of distance per lap.

 

However, KERS systems present significant design challenges in that they must be implemented without adversely affecting vehicle aerodynamics, weight, weight distribution, collision safety, fuel tank capacity, or center of gravity. Honda engineers decided to implement an electric motor/battery pack solution, rather than a flywheel solution, mounting the motor on the engine’s left front side with its power control unit (PCU) ahead of it, inside the monocoque chassis.

 

Webber's Biggest Regret - By Paul_Murtagh

 

 

When Mark Webber retires from Formula 1 and looks back on his career, one moment more than any will stick out in his mind. It won’t be the point-scoring debut for Minardi at his home race, and it won’t be that first podium in Monaco 2005, or the first win four years later at the Nurburgring. It will be the moment he ran wide on the kerb at Turn 12 on the 18^th lap of this year’s Korean Grand Prix.

 

Until that moment Webber had been the most consistent driver of all the championship contenders. He had no driving errors at all this season, and had a 14 point lead over Fernando Alonso in the championship standings. He knew that all he had to do was finish ahead of Alonso in each of the remaining three races and he would be world champion – Australia’s first for 30 years. His confidence had grown throughout the season, and despite some intra-team wrangles, the smile was back on his face.

 

Excellent Review of Austin GP To Date

Editors Note: This is a reprint from the Austin Chronicle - You can see the original here:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/issue/story?oid=oid%3A1115650

How Do You Formulate a Grand Prix?

Distilling the Volatile Chemistry of High-Speed Development, Austin, and Formula One Racing

BY RICHARD WHITTAKER

 

Five months ago, Austinites heard the surprising announcement that Formula One motor racing is coming to town. With the first major council vote scheduled for Nov. 18, the developers, partners, and local government are beginning to tackle the complicated and potentially daunting reality of turning a big dream into a concrete reality, starting with the construction of a purpose-built racetrack.

But the track is only part of what's now planned for the 900-acre tract in southeastern Travis County, and the sum of what's proposed is quite ambitious. As Formula One United States Grand Prix Chair Tavo Hell­mund said at a recent luncheon of the Real Estate Council of Austin, "Formula One is really just the crown jewel of what this multifunctional facility's going to be and what it can do for this area."

So far, a lot of the talk – including most of the satirical commentary – has placed the Monaco Grand Prix as the frame of reference. Monaco has been a mainstay on the grand prix calendar since 1929: A street circuit, it sends drivers hurtling across the length and breadth of the tiny principality. The glamour, the sparkling seas of the Mediterranean, the ancient architecture: In fact, it's hard to imagine a location less like what's planned for Austin.

The more likely model is the home of the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit. Situ­ated in a rural area, surrounded by small villages, and within driving distance of the nearest city, Silverstone has a lot in common with Elroy, the unincorporated community southeast of Austin that will house the F1 track. Even the road situation is similar: The M1 motorway, the UK's main north-south arterial, sits about 10 miles east, and the track site is accessed by a smaller dual carriageway leading to a couple of small rural service roads. All in all, that's much like the situation in Elroy, where the 900-acre site lies next to the still underused Highway 130 toll road and between two smaller access roads, FM 812 and Pearce Lane. The Austin site arguably has better airport access: Austin-Bergstrom Inter­na­tion­al Airport is only seven miles northwest of the site, compared to a 50-mile drive from Silverstone to Birmingham Airport.

How Spa Made Vettel A Champion - By Paul_Murtagh

 

It's lap 15 of the 2010 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. Lewis Hamilton leads from Mark Webber, while further back Jenson Button is defending his position from Sebasiten Vettel going into the Bus Stop Chicane. They are side by side as they enter the braking zone, with Button on the inside line. Then, Sebastien loses control of his car, spears into the side of Button and takes the Englishman out of the race, while the young German continues to the pits for a new front wing, eventually finishing the race in 15^th place, a lap down on the race winner Hamilton.

 

This move was typical of Vettel’s season to date – too many errors during the races meant he had yet to lead the championship, despite the fact he had more pole positions than any other driver. The undoubted king of Saturday afternoon had problems converting his pace to race wins so far in the season, winning only two races and having several problems during the race, such as mechanical problems in Bahrain and Australia, and the now-infamous collision with team-mate Mark Webber in Turkey.

 

Engine Usage - Abu Dhabi Availability by Flood1

As most of us know, the drivers are only allowed the use of 8 engines per season. It is a 19 race season, so that means that each engine will have been used, on average, 2.375 times. To be less precise, one must use 5 engines 2 times, and 3 engines 3 times. Of course, it never works out that way. There are failures to consider, as well as other unforseen circumstances. The teams often use high mileage engines for practice and then change them out for fresher engines for quali and the race. There is no penalty for this strategy.

The teams are also allowed to change engines one time after quali without penalty, but are restricted to using that engine from that point on for practice only. However, you are allowed to use that engine freely in the final race. This is what I think Ferrari have done. Look at the following engine use graphic. This graphic was supplied by  http://www.f1wolf.com/ and the exact page is http://www.f1wolf.com/2010-season.

 

Alonso used engine one for practice and quali 1 time. My conclusion would be that his #1 engine is the lowest mileage engine in the field. If it was not heat stressed in practice and quali at Bahrain, it will be the freshest engine in the field.

Thanks to P-One and others at http://the-pit-lane.co.uk/index.php? for helping me to inform this blog via discussion on their forum.

 

 

 

Final Race Showdowns - By Paul_Murtagh

 

 

For the final race of the season, I couldn’t think of a good topic to cover. Do I talk about how the season has progressed? Do I discuss the track characteristics of the Abu Dhabi circuit and the best way round it? Do I even talk about who, in my opinion, has done a good job this season and who hasn’t? In the end, I decided to go with a historic article (not again I hear some of you say!), but this time I’m reflecting on previous final-race championship showdowns, and hopefully they show not to expect the expected this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

 

Since the F1 world championship began in 1950, there have been 25 final race deciders, meaning that just under 42% of all the world championships have been decided on the final day. From the first title decider in the inaugural championship in 1950, right up to the unbelievable finish to the 2008 championship, these final races have often kept us on the edge of our seats – and more often than not we haven’t known who is the champion until the chequered flag has dropped.

 

Abu Dhabi Track Guide - By Paul_Murtagh

 

 

Circuit Name: Yas Marina Circuit

Laps: 55

Lap Record: Sebastien Vettel (Red Bull) 1min 40.279secs - 2009

 

Where is the circuit?

 

The Yas Marina circuit is based on Yas Island, a man-made island near the capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi. It is part of a large business park that includes the Yas Island hotel, which spans over the circuit, and Ferrari World theme park.

 

What about the track stats?

 

The circuit is 3.45 miles (5.554km) long, and like the previous circuit at Interlagos is run in an anti-clockwise direction. Like other recent Tilke circuits, it has a high number of corners – 21 in total – with 12 left hand turns and 9 right hand turns. It also has a unique pit lane exit, which runs underneath Turn 1 and rejoins the track at Turn 3

 

Championship Permutations for Abu Dhabi - By Paul_Murtagh

Alonso can become champion if

 

-       He wins the race or finishes second

-       He finishes third and Webber doesn’t win

-       He finishes fourth and Webber doesn’t win

-       He finishes fifth and Webber doesn’t win

-       He finishes sixth and Webber doesn’t finish in the top 2 or Vettel doesn’t win

-       He finishes seventh and Webber doesn’t finish on the podim or Vettel doesn’t win

-       He finishes eight and Webber doesn’t finish on the podim or Vettel doesn’t win

-       He finishes ninth and Webber doesn’t finish in the top 4 or Vettel doesn’t finish in the top 2

-       He finishes tenth and Webber doesn’t finish in the top 5 or Vettel doesn’t finish in the top 2

 

The Greatest of All-Time? - By Paul_Murtagh

 

 

Sunday November 2^nd 2008. Not exactly a date that sticks out in your memory is it? But for everyone who witnessed it, the events of that day will stick in the memory for years to come.

 

The event I am referring to is the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, the 18^th and final round of that year’s world championship. For the third season in a row, the championship had come down to a final race decider, and for the fourth season running it would be decided at the Autodromo Carlos Pace circuit (better known as Interlagos) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Fighting for the title was Brazilian Felipe Massa, who was bidding to become the first driver to win the title at his home race since Giuseppe Farina in 1950, and Lewis Hamilton, who was aiming to become Formula 1’s youngest-ever world champion. No matter what history would be created, and this race was to go down as one of the most exciting ever.

 

US GP Financing in Place

The Austin Business Journal reported today that the partners involved in the F1 project have secured $250 million dollars to completly finance the facility. The report said:

The first phase of development, including construction and design of the track and support facilities, is expected to cost about $250 million, the investors said. Previously, Austin Formula One officials said the 3.4-mile track would cost $180 million, but hadn’t said how much it will cost to build the direct-support facilities, which engineering plans show would be more than 300,000 square feet.

Epstein and Weaver declined to discuss the specifics of how much each company is investing, but they said the funds were all raised “pretty quickly.”

“We have the money put together,” Weaver said.

Epstein — whose companies manage assets worth more than $1 billion, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — said it is easier to finance the project now than before.

“The credit markets have done remarkable things in the last several months, even the last several weeks,” he said. “When we originally looked at this, credit markets were nowhere near this good.”

Apparently Epstein, of Prophet Capital Management, and Rad Weaver, director of Business Development for Red McCombs Enterprises, have been quietly working behind the scenes to finalize the arrangements. This is good news for all of us supporters of the race.

Read more: F1 Austin project investors ready with financing | Austin Business Journal

 

Racing Nascar Style

One of the people I have met over the years on the forums is British and is also a Nascar fan. His name is Simon Topham and he is known around the motorsports forums as Speedworx. I haven't been to a Nascar race in many years, but he expressed a desire to attend an event in America, and I offered to facilitate his wishes and we made plans to visit Talladega.

We saw those plans through this past weekend and I have a number of pics from the event to share. I last visited Talladega in 1991, and many things have changed in Nascar since then, but many things have stayed the same.

I have attended F1 races in 6 countries over the past decade and I have attended IRL and ALMS events in a dozen American states. I only say this to explain that I have a broad range of experience as a race fan.  My views are based on those experiences.

I prefer road racing to closed circuits, but after spending the weekend at Talladega, my old oval racing sensibilities were awakened. We had a great time, were never bored, and the rulesmakers and track Stewards played no part in the results.

Here are some pics, click on them to enlarge.

Note: All Pics are by Flood1, but all can be copied and distributed by everyone without permission.

 
Flood1, Dorri and Simon on Pitlane before the race

 
Simon on pitlane as the cars (Tony Stewart) are placed for the start

 
Pre-race preparations

 
Here is the starting lineup from ontrack before the race

 
Here is the same lineup as seen from our grandstand seats 

 
Here is the start. You can see the green flag at the front of the field.

 
 Work on a pitstop

 
A view of pitlane during Saturday's truck race

 
Another view of the circuit during the Saturday race

The one thing I would like to point out is that access to Nascar races is very open. They encourage fans to get close to the action and allow access that far exceeds that of F1 and most other series. I think that F1 should consider ways to allow fans closer access. While some may argue that is is impossible to do, F1 finds ways to let the rich and famous have access to the events, and I think they should find a way to include the fans in a much broader experience than is now possible.

I challenge Tavo Hellmund and the staff at the USGP in Austin to plot the course and follow the pattern set out by American racing series like Nascar.