Can Formula 1
get any better right now?
We will have to find out. For now,testing is over, teams are hard at work and we now look on to Australia. Here’s my preview of the 2013 season.
The
Tracks
(c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Sky Sports F1 |
2012 was most
definitely a season to remember. We had seven different winners in the first
seven races, a close title fight, plenty of stunning overtakes, questionable
moves and drama both on and off track. All ingredients for the perfect season,
but can 2013 top it?
We will have to find out. For now,testing is over, teams are hard at work and we now look on to Australia. Here’s my preview of the 2013 season.
- Australian Grand Prix Melbourne 15-17th March
- Malaysian Grand Prix Sepang 22-24th March
- Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai 12-14th April
- Bahrain Grand Prix Sakhir 19-21st April
- Spanish Grand Prix Barcelona 10-12th May
- Monaco Grand Prix Monaco 24-26th May
- Canadian Grand Prix Montreal 7-9th June
- British Grand Prix Silverstone 28-30th June
- German Grand Prix Nurburgring 5-7th July
- Hungarian Grand Prix Hungaroring 26-28th July
- Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps 23-25th August
- Italian Grand Prix Monza 6-8th September
- Singapore Grand Prix Singapore 20-22nd September
- Korean Grand Prix Yeongam 4-6th October
- Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka 11-13th October
- Indian Grand Prix New Dheli 25-27th October
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Yas Marina 1-3 November
- United States Grand Prix Austin 15-17th November
- Brazilian Grand Prix Interlagos 22-24th November
There are a
few changes to the Formula 1 calendar in comparison to 2012. One of the most
notable is the absence of the European Grand Prix on the Valencia Street
Circuit. The Spanish Grand Prix will now alternate between Valencia and Barcelona.
Other changes
are the Nurburgring hosting the German Grand Prix, alternating with Hockenheim.
There were some doubts over whether the track could afford to host the race but
they were resolved.
There were
also plans for the Grand Prix of America to be held in 2013 on a Street Track
in New Jersey
but those plans have been postponed to 2014, leaving a 19 race calendar.
The
Teams and Drivers
The Formula 1
Teams have been whittled down to 11 in 2012, due to the demise of the HRT F1
Team.
Red Bull took
the championship double last season and hence this is where I will start. They
have acquired a new title sponsor for 2013. This means they are now officially
known as Infiniti Red Bull Racing, due to their tie up with luxury car brand
Infiniti. They are going for another title with triple world champion Sebastian
Vettel and Australian, experienced driver Mark Webber. Scuderia Ferrari are
searching for their first constructors title since 2008 and drivers since 2007,
hoping Fernando Alonso can go one step further than 2012 where he ended up
runner up. Their hopes of a competitive season will also ride on Alonso’s
team-mate Felipe Massa.
Vodafone
McLaren Mercedes have lost one of their biggest assets, Lewis Hamilton, and
gained one that needs time to develop and improve. Sergio Perez moves from
Sauber to the Woking based team for 2013
alongside the most experienced driver on the grid, Jenson Button. Lotus
maintains their line up with 2007 champ Kimi Raikkonen and 2012 podium finisher
Romain Grosjean.
(c) Mercedes AMG F1 Team |
What’s one
team’s loss is another’s gain. The Mercedes AMG F1 Team hired Lewis Hamilton to
replace departing Michael Schumacher and will line up alongside Nico Rosberg.
Sauber have a brand new driver line up, the Swiss team appointing Nico
Hulkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez as their race drivers. The Sahara F1 Team took
their time deciding upon their second driver for 2013, eventually hiring Adrian
Sutil for the job. Paul Di Resta will stay with the team after missing out on a
top drive.
The Williams
F1 Team has had a big inner-team change but has maintained Pastor Maldonado and
his funding from Venezuela.
They have also promoted 2012 reserve driver Valtteri Bottas to replace sports
car bound Bruno Senna. Toro Rosso has maintained driver stability for 2013 with
Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.
Caterham also
have an all new line up for this season, ditching Kovalainen and Petrov in
favour of Pic and rookie Giedo van der Garde. Marussia have also ditched both
their 2013 racers, appointing two rookies to replace Glock and Pic. Max Chilton
will make his debut in Australia,
as will team-mate Jules Bianchi who was a late replacement for investment
troubled Luiz Razia.
Plenty of
driver changes for 2013, with some fresh faces replacing household names. It
will be extremely interesting to see how they all fare, particularly the
inter-team rivalries which look to be very close.
The
Rule Changes
In comparison
to past seasons, the rules and regulations for 2013 are fairly stable. There
are however a few changes that could shake up the proceedings.
One big rule
change is the reduction in the use of DRS over a race weekend. Whereas it had only
been restricted to one or two zones in the race, it will now be restricted
during qualifying and practice as well. This is something the drivers have
wanted since its inception.
(c) Sky Sports F1 |
Elsewhere one
visual difference is the “vanity panel” used on some of the nose cones. This is
optional so not everyone has used it, whilst some have created their own vanity
panel like Sauber with the ridged sides or Red Bull who have positioned a small
vanity panel to aid airflow. Elsewhere the new Pirelli tyres have meant the
maximum weight of the car has increased to 642kg, an increase of 2kg.
The tests
that cars have to go through before the season starts have also had a shakeup.
The front wing tests have become stricter and more strenuous to prevent them
from flexing. The amount of flex has decreased from 20mm to 10mm and the 100kg
load will be applied to two different points.
Crash and
load tests have also become more severe, as have survival cells which mean the
teams must test every chassis instead of just one example.
Elsewhere
with HRT leaving the F1 grid and Marussia using KERS for the first time in the
sport, the full grid will all have the power boost to use. The mid-season test
has also been scrapped; curfew hours have been extended from not being at the
circuit six hours before the first session of the day to eight, with two exceptions
rather than four.
The FIA have
also removed the “force majeure” rule to clarify scrutineering procedures. As
of 2013 it will no longer be recognised as a valid reason for stopping the car,
race stewards will now measure the amount of fuel remaining in the car in
question and compare it to the minimum amount set forward in the rules. Then
they will calculate any penalty based on the difference between the two
The
Test’s
Strangely
enough, just a few teams came forward and showed their true pace at the final
test in Barcelona. Expectations of a final qualifying run that would give us a
sneak peak at the running order failed and we have been left in the dark, which
makes it even more exciting.
Testing
kicked off in Jerez with dry weather. Numerous teams experienced technical
issues over the four days, Mercedes suffering the most. Rosberg ground to a
halt on day one and Hamilton crashed out on day two with brake problems. Red
Bull and Force India looked reliable whilst McLaren looked to be finding their
feet in the “radically” different car. Towards the back, Marussia made good
progress and looked to be closing in on Caterham.
The second
test at the Circuit de Catalunya was a tale of two halves. The first few days
of running were dry and bright, but some niggles meant most teams did not
complete all of their daily programmes. However rain arrived for the final two
days which curtailed any hope of getting in some dry running, it did give vital
experience on the Wet and Intermediate Pirelli tyres though. The overall
consensus was that the running order was close but far from being known, the
cold conditions were playing havoc with the tyres. McLaren were struggling to
set-up the MP4-28, Mercedes were catching up fast, Lotus were ironing out
problems whilst Ferrari and Red Bull looked consistent and possibly heavier on
fuel.
(c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes |
Barcelona
hosted the third and final test, with rain welcoming teams back to the Circuit
de Catalunya after a few busy days of working. Most teams brought new parts and
updates to trial, with some Melbourne –spec parts arriving for the final two
days. The wet running halted any early hope of some dry running but the
conditions soon moved back to that expected of Spain, sunny with warmer
temperatures. Rosberg ended up on top over the whole test, Mercedes showing
their hand but being one of the only teams to do so. Most looked to be either
running on high fuel or concentrating on other things. Red Bull and Ferrari
looked consistent and reliable, McLaren were improving and Lotus suffered yet
more reliability woes, along with a rather ill Kimi Raikkonen. The midfield
looks closer than ever with Williams showing some radical changes and strong
pace. Marussia look to be overtaking Caterham but of course we will have to
wait until Melbourne to really see what they all bring.
The
Expectation
So after a
rather inconclusive twelve days of testing, we are still out in the open as to
what the running order is.
I do think
Red Bull and Ferrari will still be at the front, with McLaren and Lotus close
behind. Mercedes will definitely catch up with that group, whether the two
drivers say so or not, and the midfield will be incredibly close.
(c) Sky Sports F1 |
I reckon
Marussia will be ahead of Caterham, with interesting inter-team rivalries
there. Bottas will be close on the tail of Maldonado, whilst Force India slip
behind Williams. Toro Rosso looks okay, nothing special and possibly not making
the step forward they want to.
My
Prediction? Alonso for the Drivers Title, Red Bull for the Constructors.
Of course we
have a long way to go. Come race day in Melbourne we will all have a clue into
the true running order and who will be at the front but it can all change. It
looks to be a really exciting season that can rival 2012 as one of the closest
and best ever.
Bring it on.
No comments:
Post a Comment