Fernando Alonso Still Regards Lewis Hamilton As Main Rival

Fernando Alonso has explained how he still regards Lewis Hamilton as his main rival in Formula 1, despite the Briton’s switch to Mercedes for the 2013 season. This comes as preparations for the forthcoming season continue to gather momentum, ahead of pre-season testing which gets underway next month.

As Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa begin their year at Ferrari’s traditional curtain raising Wroom event at Madonna de Campiglio, the double-World Champion has explained to the media that he believes Lewis Hamilton will remain his main rival, even though the Spaniard was pipped to Championship glory by Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel last season. With pre-season testing yet to begin, the Spaniard’s assumption on Lewis Hamilton is purely down to driver skill, with 2013’s pecking order currently unknown.

“I do not know who will be my main opponent for this season, he who has the best team, with the best year in terms of preparation, luck, testing, all of these factors, will help a driver or team to come on top of others.” Explained Fernando Alonso at Ferrari’s Wroom event, “But as for strongest opponent, who is strongest driver? My answer is Hamilton. It was true last year, it was true this year. The strongest driver? It is a personal opinion, not political, not to make people think something. Who is the strongest opponent, the strongest driver on grid? Who is the one you have to keep an eye on? It is Hamilton – and it will still be Hamilton next year.”

Fernando Alonso is also adamant that Lewis Hamilton will take victories this year with Mercedes, contrary to the mixed feelings within the F1 paddock over Hamilton’s prospects for 2013. The Spaniard, who was the Briton’s team-mate at McLaren in 2007, is confident that if Nico Rosberg could win in 2012, then Hamilton will be able to win more than one race in the coming season.

“I am sure he will be able to win,” continued Fernando Alonso, who has first-hand experience of Lewis Hamilton’s fearsome competitiveness. “He is a super good driver because he won every year with any car: he won in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 they started around two seconds off the pace with the McLaren, and Hamilton was able to win races – and it was the same in 2010. Last year also Nico [Rosberg] we saw winning in China with Mercedes. So with Hamilton he will be able to win more than one race.”

Fernando Alonso will be entering the 2013 season with his eyes firmly set on Championship supremacy with Ferrari, after coming so very close last year. The Spaniard is already regarded as one of the favorites heading into the new season, and will be hoping that the gremlins which struck the Scuderia this time last year do not return, allowing them to begin 2013 how they ended 2012.

Picture Copyright © Ferrari

Susie Wolff Gets Maiden F1 Outing At Silverstone

Susie Wolff got her first taste of Formula 1 machinery yesterday around the Silverstone International Circuit, at a Williams F1 Parter Event held at the home of British motorsport. This saw the team roll out many of their legendary cars such as the FW08 and the FW18. Wolff drove last season’s Williams FW33, completing two 50km runs.

British driver Susie Wolff joined the Grove-based outfit in April 2012 as the team’s development driver, a role which has since coincided with her ongoing career in the German DTM series. Before yesterday’s partner event, Wolff had only ever worked on the team’s simulator. Albeit in slightly tricky conditions to begin with, Susie Wolff explained her first ever run in an F1 car as an incredible and exhilarating experience.

“It was incredible to experience a Formula One car for the first time.” Explained Susie Wolff, “I’ve done a lot of simulator work since I joined the team but nothing compares to the exhilaration of driving the real thing. The conditions were a little tricky as it was quite damp at the beginning of the run but the track soon dried out. The team also did a fantastic job preparing me for today, giving me all the information I needed so that I was always in control.’’

Throughout the day, Bruno Senna drove the Williams FW08 from the 1982 season, which saw Keke Rosberg to victory once throughout the 16-race season. Pastor Maldonado drove the FW18, a car which propelled Damon Hill to his one and only Drivers’ Championship in 1996. Together, both Damon Hill and then team-mate Jacques Villeneuve won 12 out of the 16 races throughout the 1996 season.

Picture Copyright © Williams F1 Team

Giedo van der Garde Confirmed For City Racing Rotterdam Event

Caterham reserve driver Giedo van der Garde has been officially confirmed for this years City Racing Rotterdam event, which is scheduled to take place on 26th August. This is the Netherlands’ biggest Formula 1 event, and van der Garde will be joined by the likes of Nico Rosberg throughout the event.

The Dutchman has enjoyed a very busy 2012 season so far, currently competing in the GP2 Series for Caterham as well as driving for Caterham’s F1 team during Friday practice at the Chinese Grand Prix. The 27-year-old has already won a race in GP2 this year, and has finished on the podium on numerous other occasions and is currently 5th in Drivers’ Championship with 89 points.

“For years I have been following City Racing Rotterdam and I’m delighted that the organization has invited Caterham F1 Team and me to take part.” Explained Giedo van der Garde, “I will make sure that the huge crowd will not be short of excitement! Last weekend I took part in the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England and I am looking forward to showing all the fans the Caterham F1 Team car and we will make sure we put on a spectacular show.”

Both current Caterham F1 drivers have already taken part in previous City Racing events, with Heikki Kovalainen driving a Renault in 2008 and Vitaly Petrov also driving a Renault in 2010. Giedo van der Garde will not only be joined by current Formula 1 drivers, but also former Dutch Formula 1 drivers including Jos Verstappen.

“We are happy to add Giedo and his team to our line-up.” Said City Racing co-organizer, Herman Vaanholt. “He is joining a list of Dutch drivers who have taken part in our previous events including [Christijan] Albers, [Robert] Doornbos, [Ho-Pin] Tung and [Jos] Verstappen. We are proud that yet again a Dutch driver will be driving a Formula 1 car at a City Racing event and with Caterham F1 Team and Mercedes AMG Petronas team also taking part, with Nico Rosberg driving, we are showing that even in challenging times for the event business City Racing keeps our standards at the highest possible level.”

This years City Racing Rotterdam event has all the ingredients necessary to produce a superlative event for the fans and the drivers alike. With stunt driver Terry Grant also se to take part in the event, a stunning show is in order for all who will be attending the event. Tickets are now on sale for the event, and can be purchased at www.cityracing.nl.

Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service

 

Thai Grand Prix The Next Asian Event To Join F1?

Thailand looks set to be joining fellow Asian nations’ Singapore, Korea and India in hosting a Formula 1 event in the near future. The proposed venue is a street circuit at Ratchadamnoen Avenue in the capital city of Bangkok, which has been favored over a new and costly permanent circuit at Pattaya.

In 2010, Mark Webber demonstrated his Red Bull RB6 around Ratchadamnoen Avenue. It is the owner of Red Bull – Dietrich Mateschitz – that has fueled the recent speculation of Thailand hosting an F1 race in the future.

“The idea is good. We are in talks.” Said Red Bull owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, “Thailand could host a Formula 1 race in the next two or three years, [Bernie] Ecclestone agrees with the idea. We may sign an agreement soon. I can’t give you details because it is not my responsibility. All I can tell you is that a race could take place here in the next two or three years. I remember that a lot of people watched the show [Webber’s demonstration] and a race here will be successful.”

There has only ever been one Thai driver in the history of Formula 1, in Prince Bira who competed in 19 races throughout the 1950s including the first official FIA Formula 1 race at Silverstone in 1950.

If Thailand did host a race in the future, it would become the 9th Asian Grand Prix on the calendar. With the addition of a second American Grand Prix in 2013 and a Russian Grand Prix in 2014, the Formula 1 calendar is becoming dangerously packed with events. This will undoubtedly mean the loss of further Grands Prix, with the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka and the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa two races which are currently not contracted beyond the 2012 season.

Picture Copyright © Getty Images

Ferrari Launch Event Cancelled Due To Heavy Snow

Ferrari’s launch event which was planned for tomorrow morning has been cancelled due to their Fiorano circuit currently under a thick blanket of snow. The event was due to include a shakedown of their new 2012 car, as well as opportunities for filming purposes. 

Today Ferrari announced they had completely cancelled the event, with their new 2012 car set to be launched online. The usual ritual for Ferrari is to have their new car complete a certain number of shakedown laps on their own Fiorano test circuit, using the time to film promotional videos and take further pictures of their car in action.

Instead the car will be launched online, along with pictures, interviews and technical analysis similar to what was seen yesterday as McLaren launched their new car online. 

“It is still snowing heavily here in Maranello. Therefore, the launch ceremony of the new F1 car has been cancelled,” was what the team announced on their Twitter page earlier today.

Felipe Massa will be the first driver to test the car once pre-season testing begins at Jerez next week.