2014 heralds a new era in Formula One racing with the introduction of 1.6 litre V6 turbocharged engines amidst a host of other technical changes. However, another change that is ongoing year after year concerns driver signings and movements between teams.
    Intriguingly exciting is Ferrari's announcement of their signing of Kimi Raikkonen to partner Fernando Alonso in 2014. Two world champs in a couple of Prancing Horses? The exciting part takes care of itself. The intriguing part however, is a little more complex. Does anyone find it ironic that the very man hired to replace an outgoing Michael Schumacher wins a driver's championship in his first year with the team, only to have his contract paid out of his last year to accommodate Alonso's arrival, to now be rehired to partner Alonso? There's a definite statement there though. Arguably since the early 90's after Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell were team mates, Ferrari have always employed a clear #1 and #2 driver. It certainly served them well during Schumi's heyday, but they've not won a driver's championship since Kimi's in 2007 and a constructor's championship since 2008. Now, by placing two world champions in their cars, they obviously feel that this is the most effective way to mount a major assault on next year's championships.
    Another intriguing factor is how will Fernando Alonso react to having a top drawer winning driver as a team mate? Alonso has the ability to galvanise the team to achieve their potential, but only if he feels their unequivocal support. Apart from Alonso's tempestuous year at McLaren battling rookie Lewis Hamilton in 2007, he has always enjoyed the services of shall we say, a rather compliant team mate. One can anticipate that may not be the case next year.
    At formulafrontrow.com we love to speculate and throw an idea out there. Will two #1 drivers help Ferrari overhaul the Red Bull juggernaut and propel them to F1 glory? Perhaps two winning drivers may compromise the championship by taking points off each other? Will Kimi's arrival spur Fernando to greater heights, or will relationships be strained if Kimi starts outracing Fernando? Give us your opinion. Leave a comment or contact us at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com. No difference to Kimi though. Kimi will just be Kimi. 
    The first intriguing chapter of Ferrari circa 2014 takes place at Melbourne's Albert Park. Fantastico....

    With five Formula One races left to run in 2013, it's becoming apparent that Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel's acquisition of a fourth consecutive F1 driver's crown is a mere formality. With Vettel displaying demoralising dominance, comparisons to the only other F1 pilots since the championship's inception in 1950 to claim four consecutive titles have understandably been made. The great Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio won titles in 1951 and 1954-57. German ace Michael Schumacher won titles in 1994-95 and 2000-2004.
    Is it objective comparing drivers from different eras? Technology is different, rules and regulations are different, safety standards different, machinery vastly different.  
    Fangio achieved a feat that is still unsurpassed. That is, four consecutive titles with four different teams; Alfa, Mercedes, Ferrari and Maserati. "El Maestro's" drive in the 1957 German GP at the Nurburgring is still regarded as one of the best of all time. Squandering a 30sec. lead by virtue of a disastrous pit stop, he rejoined 50sec. behind the Ferraris of Peter Collins and Mike Hawthorn only to reel off fastest lap after fastest lap often carrying a higher gear through the majority of corners to take an emphatic victory. Stating after the race that he had never driven that fast in his life and probably wouldn't do it again, he was actually unable to sleep for the following 48 hours.
    Schumacher achieved utter dominance over his rivals and superiority over his team mates during his Ferrari tenure. Schumi holds countless records, but the one which outlines his exceptional performance is his clinching of the 2002 title just past the halfway point of the season at the French GP. This is still the earliest anyone has ever won the title.
    Now we have Sebastian Vettel on the verge of a fourth consecutive title joining the distinguished company of Fangio and Schumacher, and in the process becoming the youngest to do so.
    All three drivers are not impervious to controversy though. In Fangio's time if a lead driver retired, his team mate could hand over his car, and any points scored were shared between the two drivers. The most famous being in 1956 at the season ending Italian GP at Monza when team mate Peter Collins with 15 laps to go forfeited the race lead and a potential championship by handing over his Ferrari to Fangio. Whilst permitted in the rules, imagine that happening today? Schumi? Well what can you say? Contentious incidents occasionally blighted his greatness. A season deciding accident with Damon Hill after clouting the wall at Adelaide 1994; a nerfing of Jacques Villeneuve at Jerez 1997; team mate Rubens Barrichello slowing on the last lap to allow Schumi to overtake and win the Austrian GP 2002; parking his Ferrari on the racing line at Rascasse stopping qualifying and denying Fernando Alonso a chance at pole during the 2006 Monaco GP will all forever be remembered. Australian fans still haven't forgiven Vettel for taking out Mark Webber at Turkey 2010 or ignoring team orders to pass Webber and subsequently win this year's Malaysian GP (see Archives April 2013).
    Whilst it certainly is difficult to compare drivers from different eras, the common denominator is Formula One. Remember it's the pinnacle of motorsport, therefore the technology, safety, standards and machinery available is all relative. In other words, the best available at the time.
    With the lights about to go out on this weekend's Japanese GP, how do you think Sebastian Vettel will be remembered when he eventually retires from F1? Where does he sit amongst the great drivers of Formula One?We haven't even mentioned other illustrious F1 names like Ascari, Brabham, Clark, Hill, Fittipaldi, Andretti, Stewart, Lauda, Prost, Piquet, Senna. Let us know what you think. Send formulafrontrow.com an email at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment. Cheers....
    

    Patience is a virtue. As time inevitably marches on, all the answers to our motorsport questions come to fruition. Earlier in the year we posed the question that 2013 was a make or break year for Scuderia Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo (see Archives-January 2013). Well Australian fans can rejoice in the news that he's been signed to a multi-year deal with F1's big hitters, Red Bull Racing.
    However, expectation and media attention will rise, and therefore pressure will be higher for Ricciardo than previously experienced. No doubt that will be at fever pitch by the time he contests his first race for Red Bull alongside Sebastian Vettel at his home GP at Albert Park. With compatriot Mark Webber retired, all scrutiny with be on Daniel Ricciardo.
    Now that Ricciardo has made the step up from Scuderia Toro Rosso to Red Bull Racing, can he make the next step up to the podium? Obviously he hasn't the credentials of his illustrious team mate, but can he push Vettel hard enough to fight for race wins? Besides, with a new set of regulations coming in next year, another team may design a better package than Red Bull. How will both drivers react? One may come to terms with the new turbo engines and Energy Recovery Systems quicker than the other. Sure be intriguing to see how amicable the relationship stays if Ricciardo starts competing right at the sharp end of the grid. Let us know what you think. Send us an email at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment.
    Early speculation we know, but we also know that time will reveal all. Just got to be patient.
    Monza tonight. Ciao....  

    During the F1 summer break we found ourselves contemplating the 2014 switch from high-revving 2.4 litre normally-aspirated V8 powertrains to 1.6 litre turbo engines limited to 15000 rpm. After delving a tad deeper into next year's regulation changes, we've come to the conclusion that the next time F1 arrives Down Under to tackle the Albert Park street circuit, the cars will look vastly different.
    Narrower front wing, slimmer rear wing with the lower beam outlawed, but one of the most interesting concerns exit exhaust positioning. Since the last major changes from 2009, F1 teams have been utilising exhaust gases to influence rear diffusers and improve airflow to the rear bodywork. However, from 2014, there is to be a single exhaust, angled upwards, and with no bodywork behind. In the interest of safety, nose height has drastically been reduced to 185mm from 550mm. Open wheel race cars are more prone to launch into the air in the event of a rear end collision with another car. Think Webber-Valencia or Schumi-Singapore or Ralf Schumacher-Australia.
    The aero sensitive bodywork mysteriously shrouds a number of changes. Gearboxes must now have 8 forward gears instead of 7 and race fuel will be limited to 100kg/race with the emphasis on fuel efficiency. F1 and the auto industry have recently ventured into the world of Energy Recovery Systems. 2014 sees greater emphasis on ERS as the quantity of fuel permitted is not enough to complete the minimum 300km race distance. Therefore the new systems in addition to harvesting energy under braking, can also stockpile energy from waste heat generated by the turbocharger. This equates to an extra 160bhp for approximately 30 sec/lap. Impressive or what? F1 being F1, they'll endeavour to perfect the technology which will filter down to the auto industry.
    But how will this all affect the racing, and more importantly, the show to the viewing punter? Will we see cars retiring amid a huge plume of smoke courtesy of a shat engine/turbocharger? The packaging under the skin must surely present cooling issues for the teams. Will we see the leader dramatically splutter to a halt with 2 laps to go as a consequence of fuel mismanagement? With the emphasis on development pointing more towards the mechanical package, will the teams produce markedly different looking cars to each other now they're starting with a relatively clean slate? The big question? How will they sound?
    Let us know what you think. Send formulafrontrow.com an email at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment. The 2013 European season culminates with this weekend's Belgium GP around the formidable Spa-Francorchamps, followed by the Italian GP at Ferrari's spiritual home, Monza. 10-time GP winner Mark Webber? Now that sounds good.... 

    The Formula One summer break usually triggers a raft of anticipation regarding which driver will drive for which team the following season, and it seems that this season is no exception. Whether it's a case of drivers with substantial funding, exciting up and comers, current drivers underperforming, star drivers coming off contract, or frustrated drivers wishing to change teams, speculation undoubtedly reaches fever pitch.
    The coveted Red Bull Racing seat has materialised by fortune of the retiring Mark Webber. But who will partner 3-time (possibly 4-time) world champion Sebastian Vettel for 2014? Red Bull seem to have their crosshairs pointed towards Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen. But would Raikkonen be tempted away from a team that he has stated he's very happy with, and is already fighting at the sharp end? Red Bull have also evaluated Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo. The young Aussie continues to improve in Formula One, and performed admirably in a 2013 RB9 at the recent Silverstone young driver test. 
    Whilst the focus seems to be on those two drivers, are there other current drivers that Red Bull should be considering? Scotland's Paul Di Resta is a regular point scorer for team Force India and is off contract at the end of this season. If you've ever seen Di Resta's racecam you'll realise what a smooth driver he is, with minimal steering inputs, and therefore corrections are subtle to the point of non-existent. A joy to watch. Highly rated German, Nico Hulkenberg would dearly love to leave Swiss team Sauber, due to an underwhelming F1 car. We remember seeing Nico destroy the opposition many moons ago at Sydney Motorsport Park in the now defunct A1GP. Both drivers would complement Vettel at Red Bull very well. Not to mention, amid rumours of tension between the team and their star driver Fernando Alonso, Ferrari may opt not retain 11-time winner Felipe Massa. 
    So how will the 2014 driver market shakedown? Don't forget the sub-plots. Will Lotus retain Romain Grosjean? Is Sergio Perez' seat safe at McLaren? Let formulafrontrow.com know your opinion. Send us an email at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment. 
    As Aussies ourselves, no need to guess who we'll be supporting. Go Dan! 
                                                    Cheers....  

    After 12 seasons competing in the Formula One world championship, Australian born Red Bull Racing ace Mark Webber has announced his retirement from the pinnacle of motorsport at the end of this season. He's joining Porsche as lead driver in their LMP1 assault on the FIA World Endurance Championship which includes the fabled Le Mans 24 Hr. 
    Queanbeyan born Webber made his way to the top of motorsport through shall we say, traditional categories. Started karting in 1991 as a 14yo, progressed through to Formula Ford, took himself off to Europe, continued in Formula Ford, then F3 (plus GT with Mercedes in 1998-99), then Formula 3000 before being signed as F1 test driver to Arrows in 2000, then Benetton in 2001. But it was anything but easy. Without the support from Yellow Pages, rugby legend David Campese, Fosters, former Euro Asiatech F3000 and Minardi F1 boss Paul Stoddart, long time manager Flavio Briatore and partner Ann Neal, he may very well not have made it.
    2002 saw Webber make a stunning F1 debut at Albert Park by claiming P5 in an incident filled race for backmarkers Minardi. Two seasons followed for each Jaguar and Williams before winding up at Red Bull Racing in 2007 where he has remained. 
    Mark Webber has finished 3rd in the championship in 2010 and 2011. Along the way he has accumulated 9 wins, 36 podiums, 11 pole positions and 15 fastest laps to date, with 12 races to go, starting with tonight's British GP. There's still work to do. Webber's won the prestigious race twice and would love to be a 3-time winner of the British GP and so far this weekend appears racy. Will Mark Webber add to his win tally before he retires from F1? Let us know what you think about Mark Webber leaving F1? Should he have gone around one more time, or was it the time right to leave with a new formula coming in next season? Send us an email at : greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment. 
    We'd like to congratulate Mark Webber for a wonderful F1 career (with more success to come) and have enjoyed cheering for 12 seasons from either the Brabham Stand at Albert Park or at home. At all times you've done Australia proud and should be commended for leaving a cut-throat sport at the top of your game on your own terms. Not every F1 driver can do that. Have especially loved the wheel to wheel stuff with Fernando Alonso. Good luck.
    What chance Porsche send a factory backed GT team to Oz for the Bathurst 12 Hr? Drawing a long bow we know. Still be cool to see Webber doing Mt Panorama if it didn't clash with LMP1 duties in FIA's WEC. 
    P1 for Mark at British GP? Let's go! We'll be cheering....

    Congratulations to Nico Rosberg and the Mercedes F1 team for winning the glamorous Monaco Grand Prix around the tight confines of the Monte Carlo street circuit. The first father and son in F1 to win the prestigious race with Nico's father and 1982 world champion Keke winning 30 years ago. 
    Mercedes F1 team are a team on the improve. Of that there is no doubt. The "Silver Arrows" one lap qualifying pace has been nothing short of mesmerising, yet up until the Monaco GP have occasionally slid down the order during the race. China saw Lewis Hamilton's pole position convert to third place. In Bahrain, Rosberg, Q1 then P9 come race day. Ouch! The most alarming was Spain. A front row lock out to Rosberg and Hamilton translated to P6 and P12 respectively around Catalunya's aero demanding circuit, despite Rosberg holding on bravely to P1 until the first round of pitstops. Yet, impressively, another front row lock out in Monaco scored Mercedes P1 for Rosberg and P4 for Hamilton. Did Monaco mask a deeper problem?
    Mercedes have clearly built a quick 2013 car with scope for development, but sometimes it has quite a large appetite for the rapidly degrading Pirelli rubber. Is this because the questions asked by a fast,high downforce generating car cannot be answered by the tyres? In other words, are Mercedes hampered by the need to nurse the tyres during races and therefore cannot exploit their car's full potential? Is the car that good?
    A couple of points to note. Monaco is not a circuit brandishing big sweeping, big aero corners. It is more demanding of mechanical grip, meaning tyres can be managed with less concern. This confirms Mercedes have a tidy package on their hands. The other point concerns the recent tyre test held the day after the Spanish GP, before Monaco. It was conducted by Pirelli, not the team, conducted in good faith to test the 2014 tyres. Therefore no advantage was gained by Mercedes for 2013. We fear we may hear more on this though.
    So does Mercedes' Monaco victory shroud their true race pace? Will we continue to see a Mercedes driver on the top step of the podium? Can Mercedes allow their drivers to push whilst maximising tyre durability? Next race at Canada is also more reliant on mechanical grip than aero to get out of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's numerous hairpins and chicanes. Maybe we'll get a more objective picture at the British GP around aero sensitive Silverstone? Let us know what you think. Send us an email at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment.
    Cheers....


    

    Periodically the validity of Formula One is brought into question regarding relevance to the ordinary motorist and modern day road car production. The pinnacle of motorsport to some outsiders seems like a form of motorsport terminally married to massive expenditure that very rarely translates technologically down the line to the average punter. But is this truly the case?
    All F1 teams in their eternal, relentless quest to gain a tenth or two on their opponents have devised new technologies to help propel them to that goal. A lot of these have permeated through to road car manufacturing. Whilst some have been subsequently banned in F1 in the spirit of competition, some are prevalent in road cars to this day. Active suspension, launch control, traction control and the ultra strong carbon fibre to name a few. Now we have kinetic energy recovery systems which harvest the energy when the driver is off the throttle.
    Next year sees F1 dispense with 2.4litre normally aspirated V8's and adopt 1.6litre V6 turbos with the emphasis on energy recovery systems. F1 are already using bio-fuel and from 2014 are mandated to carry a shade over a third of the amount of fuel they currently carry for a race distance, therefore placing the focus firmly on fuel efficiency and energy recovery. Will this increased engine efficiency eventually filter through to road car production? Can F1 be credited for pioneering new technologies that end up benefiting the average motorist? Let us know what you think. Send us an email at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment.
    Can't help but wonder, it's been a while since we've witnessed anyone in F1 run out of fuel. Remember Sir Jack Brabham in his last season in 1970 handing victory to Jochen Rindt at Brands Hatch when he famously ran out of fuel? Big question is though; what will the new turbo 2014 F1 cars sound like? 
    The European F1 season is upon us. Roll on....

    The Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix has been run and won in controversial circumstances with Sebastian Vettel disobeying team orders by passing team mate Mark Webber with just over 10 laps to go, leading home a Red Bull Racing 1-2. After passing the chequered flag, team boss Christian Horner commended Vettel on the win, then promptly suggested that he must of really wanted the win, and that he has some explaining to do. The situation was chillingly reminiscent of Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi for Ferrari at Imola in 1982, with Vettel playing the part of Pironi, and Webber the part of Villeneuve. In that case Gilles vowed never to speak to Pironi again, but sadly Gilles was killed just two weeks later during qualifying at Zolder, trying to beat Pironi who had just pipped him by a tenth of a second. Sebastian Vettel has since admitted his mistake, apologised to the entire team, and promised it will never happen again. Time will tell.
    Opinion on the matter has been wide ranging and divided. Some have suggested that in order to win the championship, you need to be ruthless, hungry and take no prisoners, as you are racing 21 other drivers who all want the same thing. Everyone for themselves with 100% focus purely on yourself and the task at hand. Plus with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso out on lap 2, the extra points could prove invaluable in the long run. Therefore, Vettel's actions were justified. Others feel disciplinary action should be undertaken, reiterating  who Vettel's employers are. Some people, including former McLaren driver and 5 time GP winner John Watson, have gone one step further by calling for a one race ban for Vettel.
    But are there a couple of points people may have missed? After the second round of pitstops, Webber emerged on the option tyre still in the lead with Vettel close behind, prompting Vettel to complain over the radio for a couple of laps that Webber was slow and to get him out of the way. Whether it was a case of Webber taking a couple of laps to bring the tyres up to temperature or those messages getting back to him, he then banged in a couple of fastest laps. So the argument that Webber was holding up Vettel is moot. The call to hold station obviously went out quite early, as Red Bull already had control of the race.
    The next point is that winter testing is just that; in Winter. Plus the Australian GP was run in unseasonal cold conditions. Therefore, despite Malaysia not exhibiting its usual oppressive heat and humidity, it was still the hottest conditions the new 2013 F1 cars and Pirelli tyres had run in. Logically, they had to be nursed home. The teams through car to pit telemetry have much more access to data pertaining to car condition, various temperatures and the like than the driver. The team was especially worried about tyre degradation. An extra pitstop because their drivers were pushing would've compromised Red Bull's command of the race, thus squandering valuable points.
    The final point is that Formula One is a team sport. No driver is bigger than the team. These teams employ anything from 350 to 700 people, all striving to unlock the necessary tenths to propel them to championship glory. Whilst the constructor's championship means little to the average punter, it is of the utmost importance to the F1 teams. Where they finish in the pecking order down to tenth place determines how much of the Formula One Management's TV revenue they are awarded. Sure the teams generate income through sponsorship and personal backing that drivers may bring, but the constructor's championship is their lifeblood, as evidenced by Marussia's disappointment in losing 10th place to Caterham in the closing stages of 2012's season ending Brazilian GP. Besides, do you think every member of an F1 team feels any less joy when winning the constructors than a driver does in winning the driver's championship? You bet they don't!
    So where does this leave Mark Webber? Whilst Red Bull Racing state that they give their drivers equal treatment, the perception from the outside to a lot of people is that there is a clear favoured driver, and it's not Webber. Has his position in the team become untenable? Or will Mark Webber's trademark determination come to the fore? He does after all perform at his best when he feels he's been backed into a corner. More to the point, can Vettel and Webber ever really trust each other anymore as team mates? Let formulafrontrow.com know what you think. Send us an email at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply click on comment.
    On a lighter note, it was pretty funny to see Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton pull in to his old team's pitbox, only to be hastily waved on by the McLaren mechanics. Now his dog Roscoe has a paddock pass, we wonder if he could act as a pointer from the Mercedes prat perch to Lewis' pitbox so it doesn't happen again?
    Roll on China. Cheers.....

    As the dust settles on what was another enthralling Australian Formula One Grand Prix, it was Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen that tasted the spoils of victory. With the rapidly degrading 2013 Pirelli tyre dictating that the bulk of the F1 field adopt a three-stop strategy, Lotus and Kimi Raikkonen were able to prevail by stealth with a two-stop strategy. Crushing the opposition by 12.4 seconds, which in Formula One terms is a country mile, Lotus can be well satisfied with their weekend's work in testing weather conditions. Congratulations to the former Toleman/Benetton/Renault now Lotus team. Don't be fooled either by the relaxed, unconcerned demeanour of Kimi Raikkonen. Underneath is a fiercely determined, intelligent quick racer who wants nothing more than to add to his 2007 title. The Lotus and Kimi package must now be surely considered serious contenders for the championship. 
    But what of the two Australians? Red Bull's Mark Webber was unlucky not to capitalise on a front row grid position, as his car's Electronic Control Unit failed to send any telemetry back to his team during the formation lap. Therefore he and his team had no idea as to what the engine, tyre or brake temperatures were, effectively meaning he started blind, thus compromising his start. On top of that, it also translated to his Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) shutting down. The team were able to reboot the ECU, but by this time Webber and Red Bull were already on the back foot. However he raced hard and showed his trademark grit by finishing sixth. ECU suppliers McLaren have since apologised for the glitch.
    Scuderia Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo didn't have the best of starts either and had trouble bringing his tyres up to temperature in the cool conditions. But by lap 10 he was flying, passing cars and fighting for championship points. First race of the season gremlins unfortunately won out in the end, as he later retired with a broken exhaust. Both Aussies will be back bigger and stronger in Malaysia this weekend. 
    With the Australian GP's contract up for renewal after 2015, there are questions being asked regarding the event's viability. The Victorian government currently subsidises the event by an estimated $35m, plus the expenses incurred in erecting and dismantling the Albert Park precinct, which reportedly comes in around $20m. The question is can this expenditure be sustained and whether the return is worth the outlay? At formulafrontrow.com we are constantly banging on about brand exposure and we feel that the benefits resulting from staging such an event is immeasurable. Apart from World Cup Soccer and the summer Olympics, Formula One is the most watched sport on TV in the world. The two aforementioned events are only every four years, whereas F1 is on average every two weeks from March through to the end of November every year. Staging the GP showcases Melbourne and Australia to a global audience exceeding 350 million viewers. This entices people to attend the event in future, or consider coming Down Under just for a holiday when F1 is not in town. What about the direct injection to the Victorian economy and indirectly the Vic. government? Local, interstate and international punters that descend on Melbourne for GP week spend money in bars, restaurants, cafes, take-away food, accommodation, transport and shopping. This boosts local business and permeates through to the Vic. government through state taxes. The money spent is surely incalculable and invaluable for that matter. Let's hope for a successful renegotiation of the GP contract. The Australian Grand Prix Corporation do an amazing job staging the event with a bumper support programme supporting F1 guaranteeing non-stop track action, top shelf off track action such as Nitro Circus, and promoting all Australia has to offer the world. Well done. Can't wait for next year.
    This weekend F1 heads to the oppressive heat and humidity that is Sepang, Malaysia. Will Kimi Raikkonen make it back to back victories for Lotus? Let us know what you think. Drop us a line at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment.
    Beware the Prancing Horse at Sepang. Ferrari have jumped out of the box a lot stronger than last year. Fernando Alonso is coming off a strong second in Melbourne and has a good record in Sepang, and team mate Felipe Massa seems to have found the old spring in his step. Watch out....