Red Bull RB11 hits the track at Jerez

Red Bull have launched the car with which they plan to fight back this season: the Renault-powered RB11, to be raced by Daniel Ricciardo and new team mate Daniil Kvyat. 

Featuring a striking new test livery for this week’s opening Jerez session, the RB11 features a host of improvements in all areas as the team seeks to improve on their 2014 campaign, when they took the RB10 from a difficult start to second place in the standings.

The most notable shape change to this year’s car is the lower nose box and front of the chassis, which were amended in line with the latest regulations, but beyond that many of the RB11’s updates are under its all-new black and white skin. 

“The design of the RB11 has been very much about understanding what we learned from last season, which was a big regulation change as far as the power unit is concerned and the packaging that goes with that and setting about optimising the car from those lessons,” said Red Bull’s chief technical officer Adrian Newey.

Chief engineering officer Rob Marshall added: “There are some changes that affect the shape of the front of the car but beyond that most of the changes are under the skin. We’ve identified the areas where we can make improvements and we’ve worked hard on these. There won’t be a lot that’s visible to the naked eye but a lot of hard work has gone into the bits that are hidden.”

A large part of that work has involved improvements to Renault Sport’s Energy F1 power unit, updates that have been made in closer collaboration with the team. 

“Red Bull is the only partner for Renault now, through ourselves and Toro Rosso, and that focus from Renault together with a close involvement with our design team is yielding good results and a far closer integration between the power unit and the chassis side,” said team principal Christian Horner. “Working in unison with Renault we can really make some big steps forward this year.”

Newey added that the process of reducing the deficit the team suffered last year will take time: “We have been working very hard with our partners Renault to help them develop the engine. What we have to remember is that the internal combustion engine and its very complicated associated items, the ERS and turbocharger, are long lead time items. Those are things where if one team takes an advantage then it takes time to overthrow that or get back on a par with or hopefully ahead.”

For drivers Ricciardo, a three-time winner with Red Bull last season, and Kvyat, who joins following a successful rookie season with sister team Toro Rosso, the brief two-month wait for a return to the cockpit is over and a first taste of the RB11’s potential awaits in Spain. 

“I’m looking forward to driving the RB11 and I’m hanging out to get behind the wheel again. I hope it’s going to be a beast. We’ll soon find out,” said Ricciardo. “There was plenty of pressure on me last year to prove myself in a top team and I think everyone knows now what I’m capable of so I’m excited - excited to build on what we achieved in 2014 and ready to give Mercedes a good fight.”

“It’s going to be very exciting to drive an Infiniti Red Bull Racing car for the first time for me,” added Kvyat. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me and I’m really looking forward to finally getting into the car. It’s going to be cool.

“Though many people in the team know me quite well, there is still the challenge of entering a new team for myself. However, I haven’t really set any targets for 2015. I just want to keep doing the best job possible with hard work and the right attitude and that’s the best thing I can do.”

On Red Bull’s aims for 2015, Horner concluded: “Our target is simple: to close down the gap to Mercedes yet further. We were the only team other than Mercedes to win a Grand Prix in 2014 and we won three with Daniel Ricciardo.

"Our target is to close the gap down and put Mercedes under as much pressure as we possibly can. We know what we’re aiming at, we know what we need to achieve and I believe that with the RB11, with the drivers we have and with the new structures put in place we should be able to do that.”

Ricciardo will be first to put the RB11 through its paces in Spain on Sunday. The Australian is also due to drive on Tuesday, while Kvyat assumes driving duties on Monday and Wednesday.

source : formula1.com

Force India pulls the wraps off its new-look livery

Sahara Force India has unveiled its striking new livery for the 2015 F1 World Championship season during a ceremony in Mexico City. 

Force India didn't use the event to officially reveal its definitive 2015 F1 contender, the VJM08, the Indian team pulled the wraps off a new design, which will see the familiar black and orange livery interspersed with a silver colour scheme that replaces former white and green appearance. 

The updated look is in contrast to an otherwise familiar team, which will retain the driving services of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez for the 2015 season. 

“It's another evolution of the contemporary look we introduced last year, which reflects the growth of the team and the global brands with which we are working" said team manager Vijay Mallya. 

"I love the addition of silver, which makes the car appear more sleek and aggressive and I'm sure it's something that will appeal to the fans as well. Our traditional team colours remain integrated in the livery, but we've given it a very modern twist.” 

The livery was revealed at Mexico City's Museo Soumaya to help promote the revived Mexican Grand Prix, which will be held at the updated Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit on November 1st. New backers for the team include NEC, which moves over from Sauber, as well as existing deals with Telcel, Claro, Smirnoff and Kingfisher.

However, despite being one of the first to launch its 2015 F1 campaign, Force India will be one of the last to run its car having announced its new Mercedes-powered VJM08 won't get its track debut until the second F1 test in Barcelona in February. 

An upgraded version of the existing VJM07 will instead run at the Jerez test, which begins on 1st February. 

Force India finished the 2014 F1 World Championship with sixth place in the constructors' standings after losing out in a season-long battle with McLaren.

source: www.crash.net

Caterham and Marussia to say goodbye to F1?

Both Marussia & Caterham have got very less time if they are to take any part in 2015

With just 26 days until the winter test season begins in Spain, neither of the two have committed to running at Jerez at the start of February.

“Talks with interested parties continue,” Caterham administrator Henry Shinners told the BBC, “but if a buyer is not found before the test, we will not put up the money to go.”

The team has arranged to be allowed to run its 2014 car and engine this year, but Shinners warned that any rescue deal would need to be in place within a “few weeks”.

“I wouldn’t rule anything out,” he said, “but if we reach the first race in the same position, the chances of saving the team are virtually nil.”

Marussia, whose crucial team equipment has been auctioned in a bid to pay back creditors, staff are laid off and even the Banbury headquarters could be sold to the new American 2016 team Haas are in an even worse situation.

Their only hope now is that an eleventh-hour investor might step in so that millions in official prize-money for finishing the 2014 season in ninth place can be unlocked.

“There’s still a slim hope,” team boss John Booth told the Yorkshire Post, “but it’s getting extremely late. We’ve got two weeks to complete something by. So there’s still a chance. We are talking to investors and they are positive talks.”

F1 : Susie Wolff to test new Williams F1 car

Susie Wolff will test Williams’ 2015 car, the FW37 at the Barcelona test in mid-February.

The Scot who was Williams Development Driver has now been promoted to the rank of Test Driver for the 2015 season.

While the resurgent Williams outfit are yet to confirm their plans for the three upcoming winter tests, Wolff has revealed she will be behind the wheel of the team’s new car at a least one of the Spain-based meets.

‘With 6 weeks until my first test in the @WilliamsRacing #FW37 its full focus on fitness & preparation,’ Wolff tweeted from her official account.

The first winter test takes place at Jerez from February 1 while one of the two Barcelona tests start on 19th February.