Sebastien Buemi To Remain As Red Bull’s Reserve And Test Driver
Reigning Constructors’ Champions Red Bull have confirmed that Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi will remain the team’s reserve and test driver for the forthcoming season, as the Milton Keynes-based outfit aim to once again assert their authority over proceedings. Buemi will once again work alongside Vettel and Webber at the team.
After being replaced at Red Bull’s sister outfit Toro Rosso ahead of the 2012 season, Sebastien Buemi was confirmed as Red Bull’s reserve and test driver as Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne began their respective campaign’s at Toro Rosso. Throughout the season, Buemi worked hard with the development of the RB8, which eventually secured Red Bull’s third successive Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship. Despite Buemi’s continued search for a full-time drive in Formula 1, the 24-year-old is eager to continue assisting Red Bull in 2013.
“I know everyone at Red Bull Racing well and it’s good to remain with the team for another year.” Explained Sebastien Buemi, “Of course my aim is to be driving at the races again, but I am still learning all the time from my work with the team. I help with the development of the car and provide feedback throughout the season, both at the factory and at races.”
Sebastien Buemi joined the Red Bull Junior Team back in 2004, several years before his first test in Formula 1 machinery in 2007 with Red Bull at Jerez. After several seasons in GP2 and further tests with both Red Bull and Toro Rosso, the Swiss driver secured a drive with the Faenza-based outfit in 2009.
However, after the 2011 season both he and his team-mate Jaime Alguersuari were replaced by Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo. Despite his sudden departure from a full-time race seat, Sebastien Buemi is seen as a valuable asset by Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner.
“We’re pleased that Sébastien has continued as test and reserve driver for the coming season.” Said Christian Horner, “He joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2004, has worked with Red Bull Racing in 2008 and 2012 and has significant race experience. He is an integral member of the team and will complete important simulation work for us throughout the year.”
Red Bull’s 2013 challenger will be unveiled to the world of Formula 1 on February 3rd at their Milton Keynes factory, prior to the start of pre-season testing at Jerez several days later. As Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber battle for Championship supremacy in the coming season, Sebastien Buemi will unquestionably be hard at work back at the factory assisting the team as the strive to remain atop the F1 ladder.
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Jack Harvey Joins Lotus For 2013 GP3 Season
Newly-crowned British Formula Three International Series Champion Jack Harvey will join Lotus GP for next year’s GP3 season, joining the outfit which has won all three Constructors’ Championships in the history of the Series. The Briton got his first taste of GP3 machinery at the Estoril test in November, and greatly impressed the Lotus outfit.
The 19-year-old began his open-wheel motor sport career in 2009 in the Formula BMW Pacific and European Series with Fortec Motorsports, which saw him take only one victory in the European Series. For 2010, Harvey continued with just the Formula BMW Europe Series, this time stamping his authority over proceedings with seven victories on his way to 2nd in the Championship standings. In 2011, the Briton progressed to the British Formula Three Series and in 2012 became the Champion of the prestigious Series with Carlin.
This sensational performance in the British Formula Three Series saw Jack Harvey land himself with a drive at the GP3 Series post-season test with both Carlin and Lotus. The Briton impressed both outfits during the two tests at Jerez and Estoril, no doubt assisting in his “graduation” to a full-time drive with Lotus for next season. Harvey has intentions in following in the footsteps of fellow countryman James Calado, who also drove for the Lotus GP outfit in GP3 prior to his progression to GP2 with the same team.
“The relationship with Lotus GP is fantastic and I’m proud to have the opportunity to enter the GP3 Series with them.” Explained Jack Harvey, “I would like to follow in the steps of another Racing Steps Foundation-backed Lotus GP driver, my fellow countryman James Calado, who was GP3 runner-up in 2010. We learned a lot during testing and coming to grips with the new tyres will be very important. I am looking forward to the challenge of being in GP3 and especially with Lotus GP, because the team has a great heritage. Our aim has to be to push for the championship.”
Both Esteban Gutierrez and Valtteri Bottas drove for the Lotus GP outfit during their time in the GP3 Series, and both have since progressed to Formula 1 for the 2013 season. Jack Harvey will unquestionably be striving to emulate the results of these two drivers, as he aims to rise through the motor sport echelon to Formula 1.
Picture Copyright © LAT Photographic
Lewis Hamilton Takes Historic Victory At Austin
Lewis Hamilton has taken a historic victory at the brand-new Circuit of the Americas, in what was an absolutely enthralling United States Grand Prix. The Briton was followed home by Sebastian Vettel, with Fernando Alonso a distant 3rd. Red Bull have therefore secured their third Constructors’ Championship.
At the start Sebastian Vettel stormed into a comfortable lead, as fellow Championship rival Fernando Alonso enjoyed a sensational start from the clean side of the grid and catapulted himself up to 4th position after starting from 7th. Lewis Hamilton dropped from 2nd to 3rd, as Jenson Button fell backwards as the field negotiated the tricky opening sector. Michael Schumacher, Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen became locked in a grueling battle for 6th, which the Frenchman won as he progressed after his initial gearbox penalty.
Lewis Hamilton instantly challenged Mark Webber for 2nd position, however the Briton’s initial overtaking maneuver failed to stick as he ran wide and allowed Webber back through. However, the 2008 World Champion managed to make the move stick on the next lap, surging up the inside of the Red Bull driver at Turn 12. Romain Grosjean’s early pace was thrown away on Lap 7, as the Frenchman spun at the ever-tricky Turn 19 and lost many positions. Grosjean rejoined right in the middle of the melee for 9th position with Michael Schumacher, however the Frenchman continued to plummet through the order.
Several laps later and Romain Grosjean decided to pit after loosing many positions since his earlier spin, with the Frenchman now lapping towards the back of the pack. As Grosjean pitted, Lewis Hamilton began piling immense amounts of pressure on race leader Sebastian Vettel. Kamui Kobayashi and Michael Schumacher became the next drivers to make a scheduled pit stop, as Hamilton entered the all-important DRS zone and began to challenge for the race lead.
Jean-Eric Vergne became the first retirement of the race, as the Toro Rosso driver came to a halt on the grass at Turn 7 due to a steering issue on his car. Mark Webber was quick to follow the Frenchman into retirement, as the Red Bull driver picked up yet another alternator failure on his car only moments after suffering with a KERS failure. Nico Hulkenberg decided to pit as the Australian driver retired, whilst Lewis Hamilton began to loose out to Sebastian Vettel as his tyres began to wear out.
The McLaren driver was almost instantly brought into the pits, with Fernando Alonso following the Briton and also pitting on Lap 21. Sebastian Vettel was therefore forced to pit as well, with the Red Bull mechanics performing an utterly unbelievably quick stop on the German’s car. Kimi Raikkonen therefore found himself between race leader Sebastian Vettel and the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton as the Finn decided against pitting with the race leaders. Eventually the Finn was overtaken by Hamilton, before he decided to pit from 3rd.
Whilst the gap between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton changed every lap, Fernando Alonso has silently risen to 3rd position. This would therefore deny Sebastian Vettel the Championship crown this weekend, and would see the Championship go down to the wire at Sao Paulo next weekend.
As the race entered it’s closing stages, Lewis Hamilton once again began to reel in race leader Sebastian Vettel and on Lap 42 the Briton used his DRS-advantage to full effect and stormed around the outside of the reigning Champion for the lead. The maneuver slightly flustered Vettel, who immediately vented his disbelief at being overtaken over the team radio.
After taking the lead, Lewis Hamilton wasted no time in opening up a comfortable gap to the Red Bull driver. Sebastian Vettel strove to close down the gap to the McLaren driver in the closing laps, however Hamilton remained uncatchable out in front and eventually crossed the line to take a historic inaugural victory around the stunning Circuit of the Americas. Hamilton was followed home by just under a second by Sebastian Vettel, with Fernando Alonso a distant 3rd therefore keeping his Championship hopes alive with the final race in Brazil next weekend. Red Bull have therefore secured their third Constructors’ Championship, making history by becoming the first team to win their first three Constructors’ titles in a row.
The 2012 Championship has been one of excitement and unpredictability, and is poised with a mouthwatering finale next weekend around the legendary Interlagos circuit at Sao Paulo. Rain is always a threat around the tricky circuit, and could well plague proceedings next weekend.
PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS The USA Grand Prix Circuit of the Americas, USA; 56 laps; 308.896km; Weather: Sunny. Classified: Pos Driver Team Time 1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1h35:55.269 2. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 0.600 3. Alonso Ferrari + 39.200 4. Massa Ferrari + 46.000 5. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 56.400 6. Raikkonen Lotus-Renault + 1:04.400 7. Grosjean Lotus-Renault + 1:10.300 8. Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes + 1:13.700 9. Maldonado Williams-Renault + 1:14.500 10. Senna Williams-Renault + 1:15.100 11. Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 1:24.300 12. Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1:24.800 13. Rosberg Mercedes + 1:25.500 14. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 1 lap 15. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 1 lap 16. Schumacher Mercedes + 1 lap 17. Petrov Caterham-Renault + 1 lap 18. Kovalainen Caterham-Renault + 1 lap 19. Glock Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap 20. Pic Marussia-Cosworth + 2 laps 21. De la Rosa HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps 22. Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps Fastest lap: Vettel, 1:39.347 Not classified/retirements: Driver Team On lap Webber Red Bull-Renault 17 Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 15
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F1 2012 Champions Mode (Video Game)
Video Copyright © 2011 The Codemasters Software Company Limited
Sebastian Vettel: “We Have One Of The Most Consistent Cars”
After finishing Sunday’s British Grand Prix 3rd, Sebastian Vettel believes Red Bull have one of the most consistent cars on the 2012 grid. Admittedly the reigning World Champion retired with a mechanical issue in Valencia, but that has so far been the Milton Keynes-based outfit’s only retirement of the season.
Looking back on Red Bull’s previous results, and the consistency of the reigning Champions is abundantly clear. Since the start of the 2010 season, Red Bull have only suffered eight retirements, with only three of those being down to issues on the car. Red Bull have taken 24 race victories since 2010, including the three so far taken in 2012. This has enabled them to be crowned Constructors’ Champions for the last two years.
Although the 2012 season has so far not been dominated by Red Bull, or any one particular team for that matter, Sebastian Vettel remains confident that his team have one of the most consistent cars on the grid. They are so far the only team to have taken three victories in 2012, however it is Mark Webber who is currently the leading Red Bull driver in this highly unpredictable season. When asked for his judgement on the RB8, the reigning World Champion had this to say:
“We had a good car right from the beginning – a car that at least brought us into the top five at every race. And we have seen how fast it can happen that instead of P1 you end in P5, so we have to be satisfied. I would even go so far as to say that we have one of the most consistent cars as we’ve only had one retirement. So yes, I would say that the package is good – and for sure good enough to attack at the next races.”
Sebastian Vettel has yet to win at the either of the next two races on the 2012 calendar, in Germany and Hungary. The German hasn’t ever won a race in July come to that, and will undeniably be striving to correct that fact with a victory in front of his adoring home fans in two weeks time around the Hockenheimring.
Lewis Hamilton And Jenson Button Not To Appear At Mugello Test
For the first time since 2008, in-season testing will return in 2012 with a three day test at Italy’s Mugello circuit in May. This test will take place prior to the Spanish Grand Prix, the first in Europe in 2012, and will see many teams try and improve their overall pace.
However, McLaren seen uninterested in having their two drivers’, former Champions’ Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, behind the wheel during the three days of the testing. They have confirmed that the two Brits will sit out the only in-season test of 2012, whilst test and reserve drivers’ Oliver Turvey and Gary Paffett will get behind the wheel of the McLaren-Mercedes MP4-27.
With both drivers’ currently heading the 2012 World Drivers’ Championship, it seems the team are eager to give their test drivers’ a chance in the car. With teams’ such as Ferrari and Red Bull eager to find more pace after a disappointing start to the season, McLaren will have to keep a firm eye over their shoulders as they seem the team to beat so far in 2012.
New devices such as the Mercedes ‘super-DRS’ could well start to appear on other teams in prototype form, as the competition begin implementing the controversial device into their cars. Whether McLaren will look into the device or not, is yet to be seen.
The Mugello test will begin on 1st May, and will end on the 3rd May before the teams’ pack up and head to the Circuit de Catalunya (a popular testing circuit) for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Picture Copyright © Reuters
Williams Part Company With Title Sponsor AT&T
It was officially announced today that Williams have parted company with their title sponsor AT&T, with their logos disappearing from the teams website earlier today. This comes after the teams most unsuccessful season in their long and colorful history in the sport as they finished the season with only five points from 19 races.
The American multi-national telecommunications company have been the teams title sponsor for five years after Williams split from their BMW partnership that had lasted since the 2000 season. With Williams promising better results in the up-and-coming 2012 season, they now not only have to find themselves a second driver, but also a title sponsor. It has become apparent through Reuters that the team are now currently undergoing negotiations with another telecommunications company, with other sources hinting that this particular company could turn out to be Qtel, the Qatar national telecommunications company.
Either way, there is no denying that Williams have an uphill struggle to find success in 2012, even though they will have the backing of Renault engines. Williams found huge amounts of success with Renault in the 1990s with Nigel Mansell (1992), Alain Prost (1993), Damon Hill (1996) and Jacques Villeneuve (1997) all being crowned Champions driving a Williams-Renault.
Mercedes To Launch 2012 Car In February
Mercedes have announced that they plan to release their 2012 car later than usual on 21st February during the second pre-season test at Barcelona. This comes as the team add AMG to their official F1 team name, making them the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
The usual time for the teams to launch their 2012 cars is around January before or during the first pre-season test, with some teams that are either low on cash or without a second driver waiting until early February. However next year it looks like Mercedes are going to be the last team to launch their 2012 challenger only 26 days before the first race of the new season at the Australian Grand Prix, giving little room for error.
Releasing the car as late as possible used to be a trait of Adrian Newey, who has designed the last two World Championship winning Red Bulls, however as of late this has not been the case. Ferrari are usually the first team to release their new cars, sometimes within the first week of the new year. However as of yet, the official release dates of all the teams new cars have yet to be announced, with some seats on the grid still vacant.
Mercedes insist that the late launch date will give them valuable design time, however if the car doesn’t produce in the last pre-season test, they will have to use Friday sessions throughout a Grand Prix weekend to improve the car, a move which could ruin the teams chances for a successful 2012 season after two rather disappointing seasons after Mercedes bought the Brawn GP team who were Champions in 2009.
Hopefully this planned late arrival for their 2012 car will give the team the time they need to design a car worthy of winning races in 2012.
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