Force India pitstop practice

Live from the Silverstone paddock

It’s great to be back at Silverstone. It may not have the best facilities or the best accommodation options for that matter but there’s just something about the place that makes it feel like motor racing belongs.

Yesterday was spent racking up some interview material, catching up with friends and colleagues whom I haven’t seen for a good few months and walking the circuit to get a look at the new Arena complex.

To be honest, I’m not convinced that the new layout will help overtaking, but as I saw this morning, it’s quite spectacular watching the cars fly through the new Abbey bend.

The drivers, though, aren’t so happy with the new Abbey configuration and complained about a bump which upsets the car and prevents them from driving at full throttle.

The circuit has enjoyed a huge upgrade elsewhere too, largely to appease the MotoGP championship’s safety regulations but the downside is that there’s a lot more runoff and the grandstands have been pushed further back so the crowd is that little bit further away.

Last night, Hispania Racing announced that Bruno Senna would be replaced for this weekend’s grand prix in favour of pay-driver Sakon Yamamoto. Senna hasn’t had the best of starts to his Formula 1 career and it’s a shame that he’s been dropped so soon. But this is Formula 1 and Hispania need money. It’s not yet known whether the change is permanent.

Today, the sun is shining, the grandstands are packed and the public areas are buzzing. The Red Bulls looked ominously fast in first practice this morning, as did the Force Indias whose factory is based next door to the circuit. You can’t count out McLaren, though, and the extra support is sure to give them an extra boost.

However due to technical troubles, the car wasn’t unveiled live on the website as promised leaving many people furiously refreshing their internet browser. The team eventually revealed the car later in the day.

The car boasts a distinctive red and white livery and is the first of a new breed of race car designed entirely on a digital platform using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) rather than the traditional but expensive use of wind tunnels.

“Today is a very proud day for everyone involved with Virgin Racing, however on this occasion, where the car is the star, I want to pay tribute to all the amazing people at Wirth Research who deserve so much of the credit for the VR-01,” said Nick Wirth, Virgin Racing’s Technical Director.

“When you see what the existing teams have achieved using the conventional but proven design approach, it is unsurprising that there is a great deal of scepticism about our all-CFD approach.

“I have absolute belief in the digital design process and the opportunity to put the all-CFD approach to the test at the highest level – to demonstrate that this could be the way for the future of F1 – is very, very exciting,” said Wirth.

The car is currently at Silverstone in preparation for a two-day shakedown starting on Thursday. It will hit the track for its first scheduled test in Jerez next week.

Check back soon for more images…

Rather than using an expensive wind tunnel, the team’s technical director, Nick Wirth has developed the VR-01 entirely in the digital domain using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

Virgin is one of new teams to join the sport and has a substantially lower budget than the likes of Ferrari and McLaren so it’s not a surprise that the team have decided to take a gamble and use the most cost effective aerodynamic analysis tool available.

Come back soon to see the first pictures of the ‘all-digital F1 car’.

The 41-year-old is driving a GP2 Super Nova car, a machine from the feeder series to F1, and will help the championship with the car’s development for future seasons.

Here are a selection of pictures from the test provided by Mercedes GP and the GP2 Series…

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has signed a three-year deal with the former Brawn GP team and will link up with countryman Nico Rosberg.

Following his aborted comeback earlier this year when the German was deemed not fit enough to replace his friend and former teammate Felipe Massa at Ferrari when the Brazilian was injured at the Hungarian Grand Prix, onlookers were unsure how to treat this latest rumour.

However, although Schumacher didn’t return after three years away from the sport, his desire to race in the most demanding racing category in the world was relit and it was only when Mercedes GP team boss Ross Brawn, who Schumacher had worked with at Benetton and Ferrari where he won all his world titles, rang him up at Abu Dhabi and asked him to return that Schumacher decided that this was it.

“In Abu Dhabi, when Ross asked me if I could imagine returning to F1,” said Schumacher who will be 41 when he returns to the grid for the opening round in Bahrain. “I felt that I wasn’t ready for it. But only two weeks later, when he called me once again, I realised that my old passion was returning. Suddenly I was on fire again. For me, the imagination to be back in a F1 car and to compete for the world championships is exciting and extremely inspiring.”

And the German was quick to point out that he wasn’t just there to make up the numbers.

“I am convinced that together we will be involved in the fight for the Formula 1 World Championship next year and I am already looking forward to getting back onto the race track.”

Schumacher is reportedly being paid £6.3million-a-year in contrast to the rumoured £25million he was on when racing at Ferrari, however that figure will double should he win the world title, not to mention the number of sponsors who will now be clambering to align themselves with him.

The move will also signal a return to Schumacher’s roots as it was the German manufacturer who backed his career at the start.

“For me, this partnership closes the circle. Mercedes supported me for so many years when I began my Formula 1 career and now I can hopefully give something back to the brand with the star,” said the 40-year-old.

Schumacher’s teammate Nico Rosberg was one of many drivers on the grid to voice their excitement at the champion’s return although the former Williams driver must be slightly worried at the challenge that now lies ahead.

“It is fantastic that Michael is returning to Formula One and will be my team-mate at Mercedes GP,” said Rosberg. “It’s a great challenge for me to be up against one of the best drivers of all time. I’m sure that we will form a very strong partnership as he will have lost none of his speed! It is also great news for our sport and the fans.”

Petronas has been a long-term sponsor of BMW-Sauber, however, in recent weeks, there has been speculation that the Malaysian national oil and gas company would switch allegiance to the Malaysian-backed Lotus F1 team.

However, it was the former Brawn GP-team who announced a long-term partnership with Petronas and will replace Mobil 1 as the team’s official lubricant.

It is not yet known whether they will continue their sponsorship with Sauber or indeed sponsor another team in the form of Tony Fernandes’ Lotus F1 outfit.

Here’s a sneaky peak of Mercedes’ new livery.

The Mercedes GP 2010 car will make its debut at Valencia on February 1 for the first of the pre-season tests ahead of the 2010 F1 season.

As the battle of the airline owners hots up, Virgin mogul Branson was so confident his Virgin Racing team would beat Fernandes’ Lotus F1 team next season, that he offered to dress up as an airline stewardess on an Air Asia airline should his team lose.

Should his confidence be rewarded, Fernandes will be the one to dress up in Virgin colours.

The Lotus F1 team boss, however, has no intention of losing.

“It’s quite fitting, don’t you think? Our passengers will be delighted to be served by a Knight of the Realm.

“But knowing Richard, the real challenge will be to prevent him from asking our guests “coffee, tea or me? That would be scary,” said Fernandes who took the liberty of photoshopping Branson’s head onto an Air Asia hostess’ body (above).

Expect more banter and challenges between the duo throughout the season!

McLaren Mercedes
1 Jenson Button
2 Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes Grand Prix (Formerly BrawnGP)
3 Nico Rosberg
4 Michael Schumacher/Nick Heidfeld

Red Bull Racing
5 Sebastian Vettel
6 Mark Webber

Ferrari
7 Felipe Massa
8 Fernando Alonso

Williams
9 Rubens Barrichello
10 Nico Hulkenberg

Renault
11 Robert Kubica
12 Anthony Davidson

Force India
13 Adrian Sutil
14 Vitantonio Liuzzi

Toro Rosso
16 Sebastien Buemi
17 Jaime Alguersuari

Lotus
18 Jarno Trulli
19 Heikki Kovalainen

Campos Meta
20 Bruno Senna
21 Pedro de la Rosa

USF1
22 Jose Maria Lopez
23 Jonathan Summerton

Virgin Racing (Formerly Manor)
24 Timo Glock
25 Lucas di Grassi

Sauber (Took Toyota’s vacant grid slot)
26 Nick Heidfeld/Christian Klien
27 Kamui Kobayashi

Those in italics are merely speculative and therefore unconfirmed

What about a career highlight?
“Definitely the fight for the GP2 championship in ’07. Me and Timo, neck and neck. He won though. I’m excited to be racing with him again in F1.”

Which of the other F1 drivers are you mates with?
“Quite a few, but I spend a lot of time with Felipe Massa, Rubens Barrichello and Tonio Liuzzi.”

What are you top 3 circuits for 2010?
“Monaco is every driver’s dream race; it’s amazing. Turkey is pretty challenging – the triple apex turn 8 is the highlight. Spa is one of the greats – long straights, high speed corners, low speed technical sections and loads of history.”

It’s 12,000 kilometres to Bahrain from Brazil. What’s your long-haul flight strategy?
“Drink plenty of water, stay in the right time zone for Bahrain and find a cute girl to talk to.”

What’s your idea of the perfect road trip?
“I’d like to do a lap around Brazil from the Amazon to the South.”

What music do you listen to?
“Rock to Brazilian Pop Music and lots of different stuff in between.”

The best thing about your training programme is…?
“The results. If I know I’m staying fit I have no problem being motivated.”

Days of Thunder or Talledega Nights?
“Talledega Nights is more fun for sure.”

Who would you take into space on the Virgin Galactic space ship?
“My father. He deserves it; he’s done a lot for me and for Brazil. If I can have two more places I’d like to take my brothers as well please.”

What’s your favourite Movie?“Lord of War is pretty cool.”

Which famous person were you most excited to meet?
“I guess Pele as he’s a legend back home in Brazil.”

It’s March 14 2010 and you’re about to line up on the grid for the start of your first ever Formula 1 race. What are you thinking?
“1. Wow! 2. Need a good start and a good finish 3. Don’t stop for fuel!”

Bio

Lucas di Grassi
Age: 25
Nationality: Brazilian
Date of birth: 11 August 1984
Born and lives: Sao Paulo
First started racing: 2000
2009: Renault F1 Team Test Driver
2008: Finished 3rd in GP2
2007: Finished 2nd in GP2

Interview conducted and provided by the Virgin Racing Press Office

Heikki Kovalainen: For me there were a couple of major factors – Tony and Mike being the two leading figures in the project, and the backing behind the team were both very important, and having spoken to both of them I became aware that the whole operation has a lot of potential, and a very good chance of being a successful team in the future. I saw Lotus F1 Racing as the best choice for me to progress my career, after considering several other options that were available to me.

Q: What have you seen of the team so far?

HK: I have visited the base of the team, as well as meeting Tony and Mike, and I can see that everyone involved is very motivated, excited and happy to be pushing this program forwards. The team has ambitious plans for the future and everyone will see Lotus F1 Racing in Bahrain GP as a professional, competitive yet very humble group of intelligent individuals.

Q: What do you think of your new team-mate Jarno?

HK: I have known Jarno for many years now and I think together we can push the team forwards very quickly, and develop our car and the team in a professional way.

Q: Do you have any specific targets for your first season with the team?

HK: I always race to win and I will do everything as if I was preparing to put the car on pole, but of course we have to be realistic and keep the focus on developing the team to a state where we can operate like any other current top F1 team. It will not be easy and we will have tough times at the beginning, there’s no question about it, but as long as we keep improving all the way through the year and have the earned respect of the other top teams on the grid, then we can be pleased about the first year.

Q: Does the Lotus name add any pressure on you or the team?

HK: Well maybe at the beginning we will get away with some difficulties, but of course Lotus has been a winning team in the past and, like I said earlier, the team has ambitious plans to become successful, so after a little while we need to be making progress to keep the Lotus name at its current high status.

Interview conducted and provided by the Lotus F1 Team Press Office