Lotus add Caterham logos for Silverstone

F1 Fanatic round-up

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In the round-up: Lotus increase the Caterham branding on their car ahead of the British Grand Prix.

Links

Top F1 links from the past 24 hours:

Lotus, 2011

Lotus on Twitter

“Eye spy with my little eye… Something beginning with ‘C’ and ending in ‘AM’…”

Via the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app

Martin Whitmarsh: ‘I expect Lewis to be with us next year. he loves this team’ (The Independent)

“Lewis loves this team and he knows the car is capable of winning races. He’s sat with me here in the last 10 days and explained his passion, enthusiasm and desire to remain part of this team. I’ve known him since he was 11. I don’t think he would look me in the eye and say that if he didn’t mean it.”

Pirelli not giving up on Block test (Autosport)

Paul Hembery: “We are trying to find a team that has had a long-legged driver. I think we need to speak to Red Bull Racing, because Mark Webber is a tall guy.”

Jaime Alguersuari – the answers (Autocar)

“I’m happy with FIA and F1 with the rules at moment. F1 is an innovative sport and always has something new to showcase. We are the example to the rest of the world. I’m missing testing – and that’s a big thing – but not anything else.”

Paul di Resta on Twitter

“Morning all, the British GP week begins. Can’t wait to get out on track. Big week ahead of me.”

Via the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app

Playing with numbers (Ferrari)

Sebastian Vettel, who last year had scored 103 points, whereas today… has 186 to his name. However, who would have thought that second in terms of having made progress from last year to this is Fernando Alonso (+16, from 71 to 87,) followed by Mark Webber (+10, from 99 to 109.)”

Follow F1 news as it breaks using the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app.

Comment of the day

James’s view on the Williams-Renault announcement:

An interesting one. Big case of winners and losers here. Cosworth lose big time. They’ve lost Team Lotus as an engine supplier and next year they’re going to lose the jewel in their crown, Williams. They’ll then be left with Virgin and HRT. Those names are not going to push the brand forward.

Williams look set to gain massively from this, in terms of performance and media coverage. The reunion between Williams and Renault will be quite nostalgic for a lot of people. It could propell them forward, certainly from where they currently are at the back end of the midfield.

Although I would say the people licking their lips and rubbing their hands the most from this are the Renault motor sport chiefs. They’ll be supplying four teams and shall surely be hauling in some mega bucks. It would seem reverting back to engine suppliers from manufacturers was an inspired move. They get a lot of coverage from Renault, Lotus and Red Bull (via Infiniti) as it is, so the Williams-Renault tie shall on propel them forward in terms of market gain.

Speaking of which, did the announcement of this deal have a positive impact on Williamsmarket shares today?

A good news story for the sport and Williams, although there is clearly a lot of work for them.
James

From the forum

Ajassat shares some interesting insights into race strategies.

Site updates

Had a minor technical problem yesterday on the Williams-Renault story which meant that comments couldn’t be submitted for a short time. This was caused by me losing my internet connection while editing the story. Apologies to anyone inconvenienced.

Happy birthday!

No F1 Fanatic birthdays today. If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is by emailling me, using Twitter or adding to the list here.

On this day in F1

Alain Prost scored his first win on this day 30 years – and he did it on home ground.

The race was stopped due to heavy rain, then restarted. Under the old rules, the race was run to aggregate time, Prost leading home John Watson and Nelson Piquet.

Here’s a video showing the race stoppage:

Author information

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Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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64 comments on “Lotus add Caterham logos for Silverstone”

  1. Never really saw aggregate time rules, but it doesn’t seem like a bad idea, kinda fair as well.

    Does anyone who has experiance of such races have a veiw on the regulation?

    1. the aggregate time rules s&#ked, just think of having rain at the wrong time!

    2. Until a few years, we had that system working in touring cars over here. I’ve only seen it working once, not long ago and it sucked badly.

      The full race distance ended with the safety car on track. The leading car (on the road) was 1st, and the leading car (on the clocks) was 3rd. The guy running behind the safety car started slowing down before the finish line, only to accelerate with meters to go, thus winning the race because of a small margin.

      It’s bound to go wrong.

      1. The whole point of aggregate times is so you do away with the unfair SC rules. If you have both at once then you get the worst of both systems.

    3. It made the end of the 1994 Japanese GP quite exciting, which was also the last time aggregate times were used in F1, I think. Arguably it was also “fairer” as it stopped a comfortable lead from being wiped out by a poorly-timed red flag. But now that they throw around safety cars like confetti anyway there is less of an argument for that.

  2. Something to add to my COTD – I reckon Cosworth will pull out at the end of the 2013 season, if not before. Who on the current grid is going to take them on as a supplier? The mythical 13th team?

    Also, William’s share’s were down slightly yesterday on the previous trading day, although it appears to be making a slow upward trend. It would seem they’re making the right moves.

    1. Yeah, I think they will too. When they first returned to F1 last year, they said they needed to supply three or four teams to be finacially sustainable. The fact that they’ll only have two teams in 2012 is bad enough- but they’re the worst two teams on the grid!

      I anticipate the three main manufacturers- Ferrari, Renault and Mercedes- sharing the supply of the 12 teams between them. A link up between Virgin and Mercedes would seem obvious, which would leave Hispania to take Ferrari’s (assuming they’re still around)

      I think it’s a shame though that F1 has so few engine manufacturers left. Remember the heyday of the mid 2000’s? As recently as 2002, there were 8 engine suppliers on the grid… Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault, Honda, Toyota, Ford (Cosworth) and Peugoet (Asiatech). Although, since 2002 was such a dreadful season, maybe that wasn’t such a good thing after all!

      1. Oh, I missed BMW. Who can forget them for the fine job they did ruining first Williams, then Sauber!

        1. Yeah, stupid BMW … giving Williams their last wins in F1 and allowing them to run near the front. How dare they! Same for Sauber too, I suppose.

          1. I agree with Red Andy, sorry Ned! Not entirely sure how they “ruined” them! :P

      2. Oops, I missed BMW

        1. Argh, stupid internet!

      3. There are whispers that Honda are considering a return to the sport just as a supplier, although I think that was hinging heavily on the 2013 (now 2014) engine rules. The idea of 4 cylinder engines was probably more appealing to them than V6s. But who knows, they still might roll the dice one more time and have a go.

        Also, I wonder if Mclaren are considering entering an engine themselves. Seem’s highly unlikely but at the same time I wouldnt be overly suprised if they did have a go.

        1. McLarenFanJamm
          5th July 2011, 11:39

          They don’t seem that keen on the idea from what they’ve said in the past.

          1. They want to be saying the right things so not to upset Mercedes.

          2. McLarenFanJamm
            5th July 2011, 12:15

            Why would the worry about upsetting Mercedes when Mercedes have already indicated that they won’t renew the engine supply deal with McLaren once the current deal runs out?

          3. Which is why Mclaren may develop their own engine. They’ll weigh up costs against benefits.

            Mercedes havent said they’ll stop supplying engines, they just expect a better price than what they’re currently getting.

          4. McLarenFanJamm
            5th July 2011, 15:42

            Last year, or the year before, when they bought out Brawn they indicated that they may not renew the contract with McLaren.

            Now, if a deal has been made behind the scene’s already, why would McLaren worry about upsetting Mercedes? If they weren’t worried they would be telling everyone they plan on developing their own engine.

            All the noises coming out of Woking are that they’re not interested in developing their own engines.

            Would like to see Honda return and strike up that partnership again.

  3. Ken Block driving a Red Bull would surprise me a lot. His racing exploits seem to be largely bankrolled by Monster, who are of course a major competitor to Red Bull.

    I’m guessing Monster might have been hoping to slap their logo all over the Toyota test car. Obviously, that won’t be an option with Red Bull. Perhaps they could run an unbranded car, but even then Block would still be having his name associated with Red Bull

    1. yes but maybe redbull would love the chance to get one of monster’s golden boy’s in redbull colours! The value of this for redbull could be great.

      1. The value for Red Bull would be great, no doubt. But there’d be nothing in it for Monster

    2. Prisoner Monkeys
      5th July 2011, 7:17

      Ken Block driving a Red Bull would surprise me a lot.

      Ned, they’re not talking about having Block drive a Red Bull. Pirelli are going to ask Red Bull how they manage to fit a tall driver like Mark Webber into the car.

      1. No they’re not. Read the article:

        Pirelli’s director of motorsport Paul Hembery has said that the company is now looking for a larger car for Block – and has not ruled out approaching current outfits to see if they can help.

        “We are still looking for alternatives,” Hembery told AUTOSPORT. “We are trying to find a team that has had a long-legged driver. I think we need to speak to Red Bull Racing, because Mark Webber is a tall guy”

        1. Prisoner Monkeys
          5th July 2011, 11:21

          That article could be read either way, really – nowhere does it say they will specifically ask Red Bull for one of their cars.

          1. Yea but it doesn’t take an idiot to figure out that the article suggests they are looking for another car as opposed to simply seeking advice.

          2. Right here: “the company is now looking for a larger car for Block”.

          3. Yes, it only offers the Red Bull idea as one possibility, maybe even a hint of a joke about the Monster-Red Bull problems it would present.

            They might ask FI (sutils car) or Renault, Brawn (Jenson Button?) or McLaren for a car able to fit a tall driver.

          4. What about Trulli PM? At 173cm hes one of the three tallest drivers, right?

  4. Sound_Of_Madness
    5th July 2011, 1:19

    Actually, re: Ferrari facts, Petrov (+25) and Kobayashi (+18) have progressed more from 2010… (not counting Heidfeld).
    Rosberg, interestingly, is -33 at the moment.

    1. Ferrari again using statistics to show what they want to show.
      I’m pretty sure Bahrain GP counted for the championship last year. What happens if we don’t exclude it?

      If we look at the first eight races as they were (BHR-CAN in 2010 and AUS-EUR in 2011) both Alonso and Ferrari are actually doing even worse than last year:

      Drivers 2011 2010
      VET 186 90
      BUT 109 106
      WEB 109 103
      HAM 97 109
      ALO 87 94
      MAS 42 67

      Constructors 2011 2010
      RBR 295 193
      MCL 206 215
      FER 129 161

      Actually the championship situation is very similar to last year, with the shining exception of Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton’s deficit to last year is due to Monaco and Canada, while Webber, Button and Alonso pretty much stand where they were.

      It seems that the power situation in F1 has been practically same for the last three years, with the exception of Brawn in 2009: RBR>MCL>Ferrari

      Two things changed from 2009 in 2010.
      1. the RBR team stopped making reliability in team mistakes
      2. Vettel is just … perfect.

      1. I guess that should have been “two things changed from 2010 in 2011

  5. We Want Turbo's
    5th July 2011, 1:45

    RE: Engine suppliers aren’t Mclaren going to be building their own as of rule changes?? I can see Virgin Mclaren (if they survive)

    1. McLarenFanJamm
      5th July 2011, 8:52

      McLaren have said they have no interest in building their own F1 engines.

      1. Indeed – as recently as last month.

        See: Whitmarsh: V6 engines “the right thing” for F1

      2. They won’t say they’re interested until they have the pieces in place to do it. Otherwise, they’re just putting their relationship with Mercedes in danger.

        1. McLarenFanJamm
          5th July 2011, 11:21

          The relationship that Mercedes have already said will not continue once the current deal runs out, you mean?

  6. ken block? meh. lots of guys are faster than him. it’s not like he’s going to wheelies or flips in an f1 car.

    1. jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
      5th July 2011, 2:54

      True, but wouldn’t it be awesome to see him try???!!

      1. Teviot Moose
        7th July 2011, 13:16

        Was’t the last person to try a flip in an F1 car Christian Fittipaldi in the Minardi…

        Wasn’t altogether unsuccessful!

    2. Maybe the point is not been the fastest – in Blocks case -, but be spectacular, and he is spectacular!

    3. Hembery can’t be serious about asking Red Bull to allow Block to run their cars. The guy has Monster Energy Drinks stamped all over his car and overalls!

      1. Can’t see what harm it would do. He wouldn’t appear in any Monster Energy stuff.

  7. The Last Pope
    5th July 2011, 3:43

    Can’t they just buy one of Justin Wilson’s 2003 Minardi or Jaguar (they’re worth what? £500 maybe?), paint it Monster colours, then Ken can crash it as much as he likes.

    1. I was thinking that. He must be one of the tallest F1 drivers ever.

  8. Prisoner Monkeys
    5th July 2011, 7:21

    Ah, I do like the way Team Fernandes have argued that they are more Lotus than Group Lotus, received recognition that they have the legal rights to the name … and then gone ahead and plastered the sides of their car with the name of another manufacturer, just as Renault have done with Lada.

    And before anyone says that Fernandes owns Caterham while Renault does not own Lada, that’s not true – last year, Renault bought a 25% stake in AvtoVAZ, Lada’s parent company.

    1. Yes, but the markable difference is, that while Fernandes owns both Caterham and Team Lotus, Renault own only 25% in Lada and nothing at all in the Renault F1 team!

      1. I don’t quite understand your point. It’s one of Vitaly’s sponsors. Surely it’s better to have sponsors that you DON’T own all over your car than plaster it with competing brands that you do.

        1. My point, in reaction to PM saying Fernandes is doing exactly the same as Renault/GenII is doing, was that there is a significant differentce between these two situations.

          I have not said anything about the one or the other being better or worse, so I fail to see what you argue about here Jon.

          1. Fair point. My apologies.

      2. Prisoner Monkeys
        6th July 2011, 8:59

        Yes, but the markable difference is, that while Fernandes owns both Caterham and Team Lotus, Renault own only 25% in Lada and nothing at all in the Renault F1 team!

        Which is not immediately apparent when you put the R31 and T128 side by side.

        1. No, but I am pretty a well informed F1 Fanatic like you does know that.

          Actually it seems its pretty hard to find out exactly who own the Renault GP team, but that is a different story altogether!

  9. This new livery is the only time I’ve seen Fernandes do something obviously dim so far. What was the point in buying Team Lotus, dragging through the courts, winning the case … and then whipping the Team Lotus name off the car?

    Pointlessly confusing.

    1. But the Lotus name was not on the car in big lettering even before (Caterham replaced the EQ8 logos), was it?
      They have Team Lotus in small lettering on the sidepods right below the airbox though. Most teams do not have their team names on their airbox or wings if they have sponsors, after all.

      I guess Fernandes saw no need to shout the name of someone he has been to court with from the car and give them more free publicity!

      1. Douglas 62500
        5th July 2011, 8:56

        Yeah I think that’s the point. The ever increasing number of Lotus stickers on the Renault R31 is getting more and more vulgar. It’s weird, just as weird as what they did in 2009 when ING pulled out, as if they have to deliberately fill up spaces on the car……oh well Fernandes probably don’t want his car to look that vulgar.

  10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/14027440.stm

    Some guy with a proper racing driver for a father says F1 is boring these days… WHAT DOES HE KNOW??

    1. All Lewis Hamilton needs to do is start his own team and hes basically on the same path as Jacques.

      Jacques won a championship, give him a break – I think you’ll find a lot of people agree with him.

      1. Prisoner Monkeys
        5th July 2011, 11:23

        Jacques won a championship, give him a break

        He also had one of the most embarrasing post-Championship careers in the history of the sport. Sure, he came second in the 1998 season … but he scored more points in 1998 than he did for the rest of his career.

        1. he came second in the 1998 season … but he scored more points in 1998 than he did for the rest of his career.

          Think you’re a bit mixed up here – he was fifth in ’98. I think you meant he scored more points in ’97 than he did afterwards.

        2. So what are your thoughts on Emerson Fittipaldi and Damon Hill then?

          1. I think Fittipaldi really beats Jaques by a couple of miles on the uninpressive rest of their F1 careers!

    2. I’m sure Button and Fisichella will agree that Jacques Villeneuve is an expert when it comes to “proper” racing.

  11. Lotus increase the Caterham branding on their car ahead of the British Grand Prix.

    If I am not mistaken, the GE logos are new as well.

    1. I think so as well, I had been looking for them in Valencia, but they were not on the car yet.

  12. I like the Caterham logo on the T128. It looks like someone has gone crazy with Word Art!

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